Brompton-by-Sawdon War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Brompton-by-Sawdon 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:

* a simple yet poignant memorial in the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross, crafted in good quality ashlar limestone.

Group value:

* it benefits from a spatial group value with the listed Grade II Manor House.

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 Brompton-by-Sawdon during the early 1920s, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

Little is known about the history of the memorial, other than following the Second World War, an additional four names of the Fallen from that conflict were added to the monument. When erected the memorial stood on a grassed area on the northern side of the High Street, enclosed by a spiked chain suspended on eight concrete posts. It stands in close proximity to the Grade II-listed Manor House and near to other listed buildings. Between 2002 and 2008, a paved path leading to a paved cruciform-plan surround with flower borders, was laid around the memorial.

Details

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

MATERIALS: ashlar sandstone.

PLAN: square in plan.

DESCRIPTION: Brompton-by-Sawdon war memorial is located adjacent to the High Street, and stands in close proximity to the Grade II-listed Manor House. The memorial takes the form of a Celtic wheel cross, with a simple raised knot work design, on a short tapering shaft that has a plain panel, delineated by torus moulding. The cross shaft rises from a tapering pedestal, on a three-stepped square plinth; the cross is proportionally shorter than the pedestal and the plinth combined. The south face of the pedestal bears incised black painted lettering, which reads: ERECTED/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ BROMPTON AND SAWDON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING/ AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ “THE MEN WERE VERY GOOD UNTO US, AND/ WE WERE NOT HURT; THEY WERE A WALL/ UNTO US BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY.” I. SAM. 25./ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. The names of the 13 First World War Fallen are recorded on the east and west elevations of the pedestal. The south elevation of the top step of the plinth reads 1939 – 1945/ (4 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
North Yorkshire War Memorials - Brompton-by-Sawdon, accessed 04 September 2019 from http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/brompton-by-sawdon.htm
Imperial War Museum War Memorials register - Brompton Memorial Cross, accessed 04 September 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/30422
War Memorials Online- Brompton and Sawdon Memorial Cross, accessed 04 september 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/93881

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