Blaisdon War Memorial

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 War Memorial, accessed 5 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20614
Blaisdon Village War Memorial, accessed 4 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/201229/

Other
OS Map 6” (1923 edn)
Gloucester Journal, Saturday 12 June 1920

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