Summary

First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

Burneston War Memorial is located within the churchyard of St Lambert’s Church. It consists of a stone wheel-head cross with a central rose motif and foliate design to each arm of the cross. The cross rises on a square shaft on a trapezoid plinth which is set upon a single-stepped base.

The memorial is inscribed in raised lettering on the front face of the plinth: THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ IN MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. On the step below is: OF THIRTY FOUR MEN FROM THE PARISH OF/ BURNESTON WHO SERVED IN H M FORCES/ THEY LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES.

The side of the plinth has had an additional inscription added for the Second World War which simply reads: 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Burneston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 12 local servicemen who fell during the First World War.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two fallen of that conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Burneston 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 this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an ornate and striking wheel-head cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with St Lambert’s Church (Grade I) and the churchyard wall and gateway (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478174

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  For the Record
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair