Alderholt War Memorial Cross

c20m west of St James' Church, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Dorset, SP6 3DN

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Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1448114
Date first listed:: 12-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Alderholt War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: c20m west of St James' Church, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Dorset, SP6 3DN

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1448114
Date first listed:: 12-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Alderholt War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: c20m west of St James' Church, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Dorset, SP6 3DN

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:: c20m west of St James' Church, Daggons Road, Alderholt, Dorset, SP6 3DN

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

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Alderholt
National Grid Reference:: SU1044712591

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Alderholt War Memorial Cross, which stands c20m to the west of the St James’ Church, 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 wheel-head cross in the Celtic style.

Group value: with the Church of St James (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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Alderholt 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 was unveiled on Sunday 19 September 1920, commemorating 18 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 6 men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

This 3m high wheel-head cross is located in front of the churchyard gates, facing onto Daggons Road. It stands within a small, square, flower bed on a lawn to the west of the Church of St James (Grade II).

The Cornish granite cross, roughly hewn, has a tapered shaft rising from a tapering plinth, that stands on a square concrete base. The front face of the plinth is smoothed and slightly recessed to take the dedication and names, which are of leaded lettering. The First World War dedication is located on the south face of the plinth, reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ DIED IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918/ (18 NAMES). A further dedication to the fallen of the Second World War is recorded on the east face, reading 1939 – 1945/ (6 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
Geograph, Alderholt War Memorial, accessed 15 February 2017 from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/48326
War Memorials Online, accessed 15 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/137426/
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/26587

Legal

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