Manaton War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Manaton War Memorial, which stands the churchyard of the Church of St Winifred, 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 made in the conflicts of the C20.
    
Architectural interest:

*     A simple yet poignant memorial cross in granite.

Group value:

* With the Church of St Winifred (Grade I) and numerous Grade II-listed structures in and around the churchyard, including the lychgate.

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 Manaton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. In 1919 the village war memorial committee agreed that a granite cross should in raised, by public subscription. By July that year more than £200 had been collected. The cross was unveiled on 27 September 1920 by Viscount Hambledon, commemorating 9 local servicemen who had died. It was dedicated by the Rural Dean.

The name of one man who died in 1925, presumably because of the effects of wounds, was later added. Following the Second World War the names of seven men who had died in that conflict were also added.

Details

The granite memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Winifred (Grade I-listed), to the south-east of the church and in close proximity to the Grade II-listed lychgate and numerous Grade II-listed churchyard monuments. It takes the form of a plain cross rising from a tall shaft, square on plan. The cross shaft stands on a stepped pedestal, which is raised on a square base.

The principal dedicatory inscription runs around the upper part of the pedestal. Beginning on the east face, it reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF MANATON WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919. The commemorated First World War names, including the man who died in 1925, are listed on the east face of the pedestal, whilst the Second World War names are listed, under the dates 1939 – 1945, on the south face. The inscription to the west face reads GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN/ HIS LIFE FOR HIS/ FRIENDS.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 22 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 14 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/204938/
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/62397

Other
“Manaton”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 9 May 1919, p7
“Manaton”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 11 July 1919, p11
“Manaton War Memorial”, Western Times, 1 October 1920, p7

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