Aston Rowant War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial with later additions.

Reasons for Designation

Aston Rowant War Memorial, which is situated in St Peter and St Paul’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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Latin cross memorial.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter and St Paul.

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 Aston Rowant as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the war and commemorates the 14 local servicemen who died during that conflict. 

The dedication and plaques were potentially renewed or added following the Second World War when the dates of that conflict and the names of the five men who died were included on the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial with later additions.

DESCRIPTION: Aston Rowant War Memorial is located within the parish churchyard, just to the north of the tower of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter and St Paul.

It takes the form of a tall, stone Latin cross rising from a square plinth with a splayed foot. The whole surmounts a single-step base on a stone slab. The cross-head is inset to the arms and has the monogram IHS within a circle carved in relief to the centre. There are metal plaques fixed to each face of the plinth carrying the inscription and names in white lettering.

The principal inscription is to the south face and reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE/ MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WARS/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE. The names of 10 of those who died in the First World War are listed on the plaques to the east and west faces of the plinth under the dates 1914-1918. The remaining four casualties are listed on two plaques attached to the north face of the base.

The plaque to the north face of the plinth records the five names of those who died in the Second World War under the dates 1939-1945.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 03 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/149337
War Memorials Register, accessed 03 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/31278

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