Blaisdon War Memorial

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Overview

First World War memorial, erected in 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452971
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Blaisdon War Memorial

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452971
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Blaisdon War Memorial
Location Description:: located at the junction of Velthouse Lane and Blaisdon Lane, Blaisdon, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Gloucestershire
District:: Forest of Dean (District Authority)
Parish:: Blaisdon
National Grid Reference:: SO7021417030

Summary

First World War memorial, erected in 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Blaisdon War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* an accomplished and well-executed war memorial which takes the form of a crusader’s cross.

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.

Group value:

* for its relationship with Blaisdon Hall (Grade II*), the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II), and Spring Cottage (Grade II).

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Blaisdon as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Blaisdon War Memorial was unveiled by Mrs MacIver of Blaisdon Hall (Grade II*) on 6 June 1920 and dedicated by the Rector of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II). It commemorates the men of the parish who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War an additional plaque was added.

Details

First World War memorial, erected in 1920.

MATERIALS: constructed of roughly-hewn granite, with black metal lettering.

DESCRIPTION: located in an elevated position at the road junction between Velthouse Lane and Blaisdon Lane, and opposite the entrance lodge to Blaisdon Hall, the war memorial comprises a crusaders’ cross with four round holes to the cross head and the carved hilt of a crusader’s sword (the blade is no longer extant), surmounted on a rounded rectangular base, with a two-stepped plinth. The front (north-east) face of the base is recessed and has the inscription IN MEMORY OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/1914-1918. Beneath are the names of the seven men who died in the First World War, followed by the quotation “LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED.” On the top step of the plinth is the quotation “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.

A polished granite plaque has been added to the bottom step, and is inscribed, 1939 – 1945 with the names of the five men of the parish who died in the Second World War.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: to the front of the war memorial is a stone retaining wall, and to the sides and rear are metal railings.

Sources

Websites
Blaisdon Village War Memorial, accessed 4 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/201229/
Blaisdon War Memorial, accessed 5 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20614
Other
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 12 June 1920
OS Map 6” (1923 edn)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.