Summary
A First World War memorial of c1930 by an unknown designer, with Second World War additions, in the form of a cross with a laurel-wreath wheel head.
Reasons for Designation
Dunham Town War Memorial, a First World War memorial of c1930 by an unknown designer, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historical association: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design quality: a simple but assured and well-detailed design with good quality carving.
History
No detail is known of the circumstances in which the memorial was built. It is first shown on the 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey map of 1936. After the Second World War, five names were added to commemorate the Fallen of that war, but no names have been added since then, although it appears that the last name has had the Christian name re-carved, or a new Christian name added before the original name.
Details
A First World War memorial of c1930, by an unknown designer.
MATERIALS: buff sandstone.
PLAN: a square cross on a square base.
DESCRIPTION: standing in the churchyard of St Mark’s parish church, to the S of the church and directly opposite the lychgate into the churchyard.
The simple square-section cross has slight flaring to each arm, and a laurel wreath carved between the arms. It stands on a short, very slightly tapered plinth with moulding at its foot. This rests on the base, which is square in plan, but with ogee chamfers to create an octagonal upper surface. The incised inscription runs around the octagonal frieze just below this, and reads:
'TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR'.
The S face is also inscribed with the dates 1914 and 1918, and the names of the 14 fallen of the First World War, arranged alphabetically and without rank. The W face is inscribed with the dates 1939 and 1945, and the five names of the fallen of the Second World War. The last of these has a first name which is in different lettering. The base rests on a square step.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 January 2017.
