Laxton War Memorial

Church of St Michael the Archangel, High Street, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0NX

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

Overview

First World War memorial in the churchyard of the parish church of St Michael the Archangel, Laxton, unveiled 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467427
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Laxton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church of St Michael the Archangel, High Street, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0NX

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467427
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Laxton War Memorial
Location Description:: Churchyard of St Michael the Archangel, High Street, Laxton, Newark, NG22 0NX. National grid reference: SK 72204 67088.
Statutory Address 1:: Church of St Michael the Archangel, High Street, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0NX

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:: Church of St Michael the Archangel, High Street, Laxton, Nottinghamshire, NG22 0NX

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

County:: Nottinghamshire
District:: Newark and Sherwood (District Authority)
Parish:: Laxton and Moorhouse
National Grid Reference:: SK7221367092

Summary

First World War memorial in the churchyard of the parish church of St Michael the Archangel, Laxton, unveiled 1920.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial situated in the churchyard of the parish church of St Michael the Archangel, Laxton, dating to 1920 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:

* as a well-crafted memorial employing classical symbols of respect and mourning.

Group Value:

* with the Grade I listed church of St Michael the Archangel, the Grade II list gates and gate piers, and Grade II listed churchyard cross.

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 750,000 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 Laxton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the nine parishioners who lost their lives in the First World War.

Details

A First World War Memorial.

MATERIALS: granite with lead lettering.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in the churchyard of the Grade I listed parish church of St Michael the Archangel, to the north of the chancel. A plain cross stands on a drape on top of a square column supported by a square base of two stages. At the base of the north face of the column a broken artillery piece is sculpted alongside sprays of laurel and oak.

The column is inscribed on its north face with lettering in lead: TO / THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL / REMEMBRANCE OF / THOSE FROM THIS / PARISH WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1919 / GREATER LOVE HATH / NO MAN THAN THIS, / THAT A MAN LAY / DOWN HIS LIFE FOR / HIS FRIENDS. The names of nine men who lost their lives are recorded in the two stages of the plinth.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register: Laxton – WW1 Cross, accessed 16 October 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/27221

Legal

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