Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Atherington War Memorial, which stands in the 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 granite memorial cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and the Lych Gate and numerous churchyard monuments listed at 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. 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 memorial cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed), overlooking the road through the village. In granite, it takes the form of a tall cross with a Maltese cross head and tapering cross shaft. The cross shaft rises from a plinth, square on plan, which stands on a low step. The front face of the cross is decorated with a further cross shape carved in low relief whilst on the cross shaft a sword, unusually with the hilt downwards, is carved in relief.
End of official list entry
