Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Alwington War Memorial Cross, which stands in St Andrew's churchyard, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet poignant memorial cross in Dartmoor granite;
* Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Andrew and other designated assets in the churchyard.
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
Details
The Dartmoor granite memorial stands in the churchyard to the south of the Church of St Andrew (Grade I-listed) and opposite the listed and scheduled medieval churchyard cross socket stone. It takes the form of a tall cross with a Maltese cross head. The granite is rough-hewn, with finely finished arisses. The monogram IHS is carved to the centre of the cross head. The cross shaft stands on a four-stepped, octagonal, base.
End of official list entry
