Coton War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Peter, High Street, Coton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7PL

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439976
Date first listed:: 02-Dec-2016
List Entry Name:: Coton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Peter, High Street, Coton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7PL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439976
Date first listed:: 02-Dec-2016
List Entry Name:: Coton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Peter, High Street, Coton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7PL

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Peter, High Street, Coton, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7PL

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Cambridgeshire
District:: South Cambridgeshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Coton
National Grid Reference:: TL4089958872

Summary

First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Coton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified memorial wall with fine lettering; * Group value: with St Peter’s Church (Grade I).

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Coton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 17 local servicemen who fell during the First World War.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the one fallen of that conflict.

Details

Coton War Memorial is located within the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, Coton. It consists of a stone short rectangular wall upon a chamfered base which is set upon a single-stepped base.

The memorial carries the inscription in incised painted lettering on the front and rear faces and reads: IN MEMORY OF THE COTON MEN WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 (NAMES)/ THEY DIED FOR ENGLAND LET US LIVE FOR ENGLAND. The side face has a later dedication for the Second World War: 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 17 February 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/237320
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/911

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.