Preston War Memorial

St Peter & St Paul's Churchyard, Church Lane, Preston, Rutland, LE15 9NG

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled in May 1920, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454976
Date first listed:: 04-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Preston War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Peter & St Paul's Churchyard, Church Lane, Preston, Rutland, LE15 9NG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454976
Date first listed:: 04-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Preston War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Peter & St Paul's Churchyard, Church Lane, Preston, Rutland, LE15 9NG

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

Statutory Address:: St Peter & St Paul's Churchyard, Church Lane, Preston, Rutland, LE15 9NG

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

District:: Rutland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Preston
National Grid Reference:: SK8703302377

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in May 1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Preston War Memorial, which is situated in St Peter and St Paul’s 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 well-executed Latin cross memorial.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter and St Paul.

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 Preston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled in May 1920 by Lieutenant General Sir A E Codrington and dedicated by the Bishop of Leicester.

Following the Second World War, a dedication and the names of the two men killed in that conflict were added to the memorial.

A photograph from the 1990s indicates that the inscriptions on the memorial had been significantly weathered. Stone panels have since been fixed to the plinth and base with renewed inscriptions and names.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Preston War Memorial is located in the churchyard to the east of the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II*-listed). It stands on a square area of paving.

The memorial is of Clipsham stone and takes the form of a Latin cross on a tall, tapering octagonal shaft with moulded collar and chamfered stops. The shaft rises from a four-sided plinth with moulded upper corners, surmounting a two-stepped, square base. Four square stone flower holders stand on the lower step of the base, one at each corner; a fifth stands adjacent to the memorial on the south side.

Stone panels have been added to the faces of the plinth carrying the First World War dedication and names. The dedication is to the east face of the plinth and reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE/ PRESTON MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The 12 names of those who died are recorded to the north and south faces of the plinth. A further inscription to the west face reads THEIR NAME/ LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE.

The east face of the upper step of the base carries the Second World War dedication on a similar stone panel AND THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945. Two casualties are recorded from this conflict, one inscribed on a stone panel to the north face of the base and the other to a similar panel on the south face.

All lettering is incised, painted black.

Sources

Websites
Leicestershire County Council War Memorials Project, accessed 21 February 2018 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/915
Rutland Remembers, accessed 21 February 2018 from http://www.rutlandremembers.org/location/1202/preston-war-memorial-st-peter-and-st-paul-church
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 February 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37785

Legal

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