Whetstone (St Peter's Churchyard) War Memorial

St Peter's Churchyard, Church Lane, Whetstone, Leicestershire, LE8 6JG

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Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled on 28 May 1921, designed by E G Fowler with cross and sculptural work undertaken by Anthony Smith of Leicester. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455370
Date first listed:: 02-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whetstone (St Peter's Churchyard) War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Peter's Churchyard, Church Lane, Whetstone, Leicestershire, LE8 6JG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455370
Date first listed:: 02-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whetstone (St Peter's Churchyard) War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Peter's Churchyard, Church Lane, Whetstone, Leicestershire, LE8 6JG

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's Churchyard, Church Lane, Whetstone, Leicestershire, LE8 6JG

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

County:: Leicestershire
District:: Blaby (District Authority)
Parish:: Whetstone
National Grid Reference:: SP5575397540

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 28 May 1921, designed by E G Fowler with cross and sculptural work undertaken by Anthony Smith of Leicester.

Reasons for Designation

Whetstone (St Peter’s Churchyard) War Memorial 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Calvary cross memorial demonstrating fine craftsmanship in the sculptural depiction of Christ on the Cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Peter.

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 in St Peter’s Churchyard at Whetstone as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Captain Ernest G Fowler, with the cross and sculpture of Christ undertaken by Mr Anthony Smith of Leicester. The memorial was unveiled on 28 May 1921 by General Lord Horne and dedicated by the Bishop of Leicester, Dr Norman Lang.

Whetstone also has a civic memorial situated along the main road to the south-west of the church; this was also designed by E G Fowler and is Grade II-listed.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: wood cross and sculpture; Portland stone plinth; Forest of Dean stone base. DESCRIPTION: Whetstone (St Peter’s Churchyard) War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Grade I-listed Church of St Peter, situated to the north of the church and on the approach to the church entrance.

It takes the form of a wooden Calvary cross surmounted by a canopy. To the south face is a large carved sculpture of Christ on the Cross, above which, on the vertical arm of the cross, is a carved scroll with the monogram INRI in relief letters. The cross rises from a four-sided plinth of Portland stone with cap and moulded cornice. This surmounts a three-stepped, square base of Forest of Dean stone; the lowermost step is chamfered.

The plinth carries the principal inscription and names in incised lettering. The inscription wraps around the upper section of the plinth over three faces and reads TO THE MEMORY OF THE (west face)/ WHETSTONE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES (south face)/ IN THE WAR 1914 – 1918 (east face). The lettering has been significantly weathered. Directly below the inscription is a narrow, moulded band. The names of the 18 men who died are recorded below the inscription to the south face of the plinth. A further inscription is to the south face of the uppermost step of the base and reads THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVER MORE. The stonework has suffered some damage, obscuring some of the words. Directly below, to the middle step are the letters R.I.P.

Sources

Websites
Leicestershire County Council War Memorials Project, accessed 5 March 2018 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/1231
War Memorials Register, accessed 5 March 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37799
Other
‘Whetstone Memorial: Unveiling Ceremony by Lord Horne’, Leicester Mail, (30 May 1921), pp2
Illustrated Leicester Chronicle, (4 June, 1921), pp8-9

Legal

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