Muston War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial by William Silver Frith unveiled on 20 September 1919, with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Muston 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 well-carved Calvary cross;
* Sculptural interest: as an excellent example of the work of distinguished sculptor William Silver Frith;
* Group value: with St John the Baptist Church (Grade II*).

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 England, 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 dedicated at Muston by the Bishop of Leicester on 20 September 1919 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 11 local servicemen who died during the First World War. 

The memorial was sculpted by William Silver Frith (1850-1924). He was a sculptor and teacher who studied at Lambeth School of Art from 1870 and from 1872 also at the Royal Academy Schools. Most of Frith’s work as a sculptor was for architects, notably Aston Webb. His other works include the high-relief carvings on the Royal Engineers South African War Memorial, 1905, Chatham, Kent. He exhibited at the Royal Academy 1884-1912.

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

Details

MATERIALS: Ketton stone.

DESCRIPTION: Muston War Memorial stands in the churchyard in front of St John the Baptist Church, Muston. It consists of a wheel-head Calvary cross rising on a tapering hexagonal shaft. The shaft is set upon a tall hexagonal plinth on a three-stepped base.

The front face of the plinth is incised with a dedication which reads: ERECTED TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY/ OF THOSE MEN/ CONNECTED WITH/ THIS PARISH WHO/ LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The other faces of the plinth are incised with the names of the fallen followed by the dates of their death.

The later dedication for the Second World War reads: 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
Battesford Living History, accessed 21 August 2016 from http://www.bottesfordhistory.org.uk/content/topics/wartime-bottesford/muston-war-memorial-st-john-the-baptist-churchyard
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/86644
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37794

Other
‘Muston War Memorial’, Grantham Journal, 13 September 1919, 5

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