Nantwich War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial Calvary cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Nantwich War Memorial, which stands on the High Street, 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 tall and imposing Calvary cross with additional sculptural detail in the mouldings.

Group value:

* With the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and numerous adjacent Grade II-listed buildings.

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 Nantwich as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 175 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled by Lieutenant General Sir H De Beauvoir de Lisle KCB KCMG DSO on 25 September 1921. The memorial had cost of £925. After the Second World War, the names of 44 who had lost their lives in that conflict were added to the memorial. The memorial underwent restoration in 1969.

Details

The memorial is located on the High Street, at the western edge of the grounds of the Church of St Mary (Grade I), within a public area surrounded by a number of listed buildings. It takes the form of a stone Calvary cross which stands to approximately 4m in height. At the top a hood shelters the carved crucifixion. The cross head rises from the heavily moulded collar of an octagonal shaft: the collar incorporates sculptural features including the bust of the Virgin Mary.

The cross shaft stands on an octagonal plinth with a simple cornice. Each side of the plinth carries a polished granite plaque. The plaque on the front of the plinth bears the dedication TO/ THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE/ MEN OF NANTWICH/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The remaining seven plaques list, in alphabetical order, the names of those killed in the First World War: four of these names are also carved into faces of the plinth's base.

The plinth is supported by a three-stepped octagonal base. Three grey granite tablets on the middle step commemorate those killed in the Second World War. Of these the dedicatory tablet reads 1939 – 1945. Either side of that are two larger tablets recording the names, 44 in total including three women. Two Second World War servicemen who died as a result of injuries in 1946 are also recorded on the third tablet.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/131162/
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2048

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