Trentham Cross War Memorial

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Overview

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Designed by Adams and Watkin of Stoke-on-Trent and built by Thomas Godwin. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1459481
Date first listed:: 28-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Trentham Cross War Memorial

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1459481
Date first listed:: 28-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Trentham Cross War Memorial
Location Description:: located about 22m to the south-west of the mausoleum within the cemetery on Stone Road (A34), Trentham, Staffordshire.

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.

District:: City of Stoke-on-Trent (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SJ8678341041

Summary

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Designed by Adams and Watkin of Stoke-on-Trent and built by Thomas Godwin.

Reasons for Designation

Trentham Cross 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 conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* it is an accomplished and well-realised Latin cross war memorial which displays good architectural detailing.

Group value:

* with the mausoleum (Grade I).

History

The great age of memorial building was in the aftermath of the First World War 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.

Trentham Cross War Memorial was paid for by the women of Trentham to commemorate the 17 men of the parish who had died during the First World War and was unveiled on the 2 October 1921 by Brigadier-General Sir Smith Hill Child, 2nd Baronet, MP. The war memorial was designed by the architectural practice Adams and Watkin of Stoke-on-Trent and built by Thomas Godwin. It lies about 22m to the south-west of the early-C19 mausoleum (Grade I) to the Marquis of Sutherland, later the Duke of Sutherland, and within the grounds of the cemetery.

Following the Second World War, an additional inscription was added along with the names of 10 men who had died in the conflict.

Details

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Designed by Adams and Watkin of Stoke-on-Trent and built by Thomas Godwin. MATERIALS: carved from Stancliffe, also known as Darley Dale, stone.

DESCRIPTION: located to the south-west of the mausoleum (Grade I) within the cemetery on Stone Road the war memorial takes the form of a Latin cross and stands on a square platform of four steps. The pedestal has a square base rising through chamfered corners to form an octagon, and is surmounted by a tapered octagonal shaft with a Latin cross. The cross has octagonal arms with decorative ends.

The north-east face of the pedestal is inscribed:

THIS MEMORIAL CROSS / IS THE GIFT OF / THE WOMEN OF TRENTHAM.

The south-west face of the pedestal is inscribed:

1914-IN-1918 / GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THE / MEN OF TRENTHAM / WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR / (NAMES).

The south-east face of the pedestal is inscribed:

1939 TO 1945 / (NAMES) / JAMES PEARSON HOWSON 1914 – 1918.

Sources

Websites
Trentham Cross, accessed 14 August 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/38445
Trentham War Memorial, accessed 14 August 2018 from http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMVKGA_Trentham_War_Memorial_Stoke_on_Trent_Staffordshire
Trentham World War One Project, accessed 14 August 2018 from http://trenthamwarmemorial.org.uk/

Legal

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