Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Neston War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary and St Helen, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
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 Neston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The memorial is located within a gated and railed enclosure in the north-east corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary and St Helen (Grade II*). The approximately 5m tall wheel-head cross is carved in sandstone, rising from a tapering plinth that stands on a three-stepped square base. The cross head is ornamented with carved decoration including a crown of thorns around the wheel face and rose buds on the cross arms, whilst the front face of the cross shaft is decorated with intricately carved intertwining foliage patterns including oak leaves.
End of official list entry
