Summary

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

Description

MATERIALS: limestone pillar, brick and paved base.

DESCRIPTION: St Neots war memorial comprises a two-tiered pillar decorated at the top with a stone collar edged with hollow dropped squares, from which hang carved floral garlands incorporating a poppy-head at the centre point.

The dedicatory inscription is incised onto the front face and reads: THE/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945.

The side faces are inscribed on a panel in lead lettering with the names of the fallen from the First World War. The names of the fallen from the Second World War in leaded lettering are inscribed on a panel on the lower tier.

The memorial is set upon a three-stepped base, each step topped with paving slabs.

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 the country, 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 St Neots 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 76 local servicemen who fell during the First World War. The burial ground of St Neots Parish Church which was closed in 1880 was used for the site of the memorial.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 22 fallen of that conflict.

In 2010 the memorial was cleaned and repaired with the help of grant aid from the War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

St Neots 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 elegant memorial pillar with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with St Mary the Virgin Church (Grade I).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477933

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.

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