Summary

A war memorial, designed by Mabel St John-Mildmay, constructed in 1920.

Description

A war memorial, designed by Mabel St John Mildmay, constructed in 1920.

MATERIALS
The memorial is constructed from local limestone.

PLAN
The platform on which the memorial stands is octagonal in shape, circa 1.5m across.

DESCRIPTION
The memorial takes the form of a small wheel cross above a coped four-sided section with blind arched fields with cusped decoration, atop a slender, tapering octagonal shaft. The shaft, which has a moulded foot, is set on a chamfered, cubic base, the whole on an octagonal platform of three steps. One face of the base bears a plaque which reads: ROLL OF HONOUR / 1914-1918, and below gives the names of the Fallen from the First World War (22 in total). Below this are the dates 1939-1945 and the names of the Fallen from the Second World War (2 names). Continuing anti-clockwise from the plaque, the base is inscribed: + GREATER LOVE HATH NO / MAN THAN THIS, THAT / A MAN LAY DOWN HIS / LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS +, in upper and lower cases of a detailed Serif font. The next face is inscribed + IN GLORIOUS MEMORY / OF STINCHCOMBE MEN / WHO FELL IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 +. The final face is inscribed + THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES / FOR YOU: SEE THAT / YOU LIVE FOR OTHERS: / TIS THE BEST THAT / YOU CAN GIVE +. The names of the Fallen from the Second World War and the dates of the conflict are inscribed across faces of the second step of the platform.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 10 January 2017.

History

The war memorial was erected in 1920, to designs by Mabel St John-Mildmay, of Drakestone House in Stinchcombe. Walter and Mabel St John-Mildmay, were both talented artists and adherents of the Arts and Crafts movement; Drakestone was commissioned by them, and built in Cotswold Arts and Crafts style. Mabel was an accomplished painter who had studied at the Antwerp Academy, and exhibited circa 1901-1932. The inscription was chosen by Sir Charles Prevost, Bt, lord of the manor of Stinchcombe. The war memorial was set up in a very prominent location, at the heart of the village, on the junction of three roads. Originally set up to honour the Fallen of the First World War, the memorial was altered after the Second World War by the addition of the details of the men who lost their lives in that conflict. Since then, a plaque has been added giving the roll of honour from both World Wars; it appears to have been added to cover the weathered inscription which formerly detailed the names of the dead of the First World War.

Reasons for Listing

The war memorial at Stinchcombe 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;
* Architectural interest: for the quality of the design and craftsmanship of this sombre and dignified memorial;
* Group value: with the listed buildings which form its setting on all sides.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26676578

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

• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)