Bramfield War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Bramfield War Memorial, which stands in the 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 simple yet poignant war memorial wheel-head cross in Portland stone.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Andrew (Grade I) and its detached tower (Grade I), and the Grade II-listed Serpentine Walls to the north of Bramfield Hall.

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 Bramfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by five members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The names of two servicemen who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial. The memorial was restored in 2001 with grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

The memorial stands in the churchyard, to the south of the Church of St Andrew (Grade I) and to the east of the detached church tower (Grade I). It is opposite the Grade II-listed serpentine walls to the north of Bramfield Hall. It comprises a wheel-head cross standing on a tapering plinth, on a two-stepped base. The memorial is carved from Portland stone and stands approximately 2.7m high.

The circle of the wheel-head is edged with a carved rope design. On the south face of the wheel-head is a foliate decoration at the centre of the cross. The front face of the cross shaft is ornamented by a circular badge of basket-work design and beneath this, towards the foot of the shaft, a shield containing the inscription 1914/ 1918. These features are carved in low relief.

The main inscription on the south face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD, AND IN/ MEMORY OF THE/ FOLLOWING MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ (5 NAMES)/ with, to the upper step of the base below, “LEST WE FORGET.” A further inscription in incised and black-painted lettering on the west face of the plinth reads 1939 1945/ (2 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 10 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5442
War Memorials Online, accessed 10 July 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/117262/
War Memorials Trust, Grants Showcase, accessed 10 July 2017 from http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=319

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