Alresford War Memorial

c50m to the east of the ruins of St Peter's Church, Ford Lane, Alresford, Essex, CO7 8AZ

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Overview

First World War granite memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455457
Date first listed:: 19-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Alresford War Memorial
Statutory Address:: c50m to the east of the ruins of St Peter's Church, Ford Lane, Alresford, Essex, CO7 8AZ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455457
Date first listed:: 19-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Alresford War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: c50m to the east of the ruins of St Peter's Church, Ford Lane, Alresford, Essex, CO7 8AZ

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:: c50m to the east of the ruins of St Peter's Church, Ford Lane, Alresford, Essex, CO7 8AZ

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

County:: Essex
District:: Tendring (District Authority)
Parish:: Alresford
National Grid Reference:: TM0653220676

Summary

First World War granite memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Alresford War Memorial, which stands on Ford Lane, 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 granite wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the ruins of the Church of St Peter (scheduled, and Grade II-listed).

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 unveiled at Alresford by the Suffragan Bishop of Colchester on 2 June 1920 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate five local servicemen who died in that conflict.

In 2004 the lettering was restored with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

The granite memorial cross stands at the roadside, close to the scheduled and Grade II-listed ruins of the Church of St Peter. It comprises a tall rough-hewn wheel-head cross that rises from a small tapering pedestal. The pedestal stands on a low square base. The principal dedicatory inscription to the base of the cross shaft reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED/ MEMORY OF/ THE ALRESFORD MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The commemorated names are recorded on two faces of the pedestal.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 9 March 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/101526/
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 March 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22572
Other
‘Alresford’, Chelmsford Chronicle, 11 June 1920, p8

Legal

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