Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
DESCRIPTION: Lowfield Heath War Memorial is located in the north-west corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*-listed).
It is of rough-hewn granite and takes the form of a tall, wheel-head cross rising from a tapering, square plinth, which surmounts a single-stepped base. The plinth carries the inscription and names in leaded lettering on smooth inset panels.
The principal dedication is on a large panel on the east face and reads, IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS DISTRICT/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THEIR/ COUNTRY’S SERVICE DURING THE GREAT WAR/ FROM 1914 TO 1918./ (24 NAMES). The remaining 13 names of the First World War casualties are recorded on smaller panels cut into the north and south faces of the plinth.
The Second World War dedication is on the west face of the plinth and reads, 1939 – 1945/ (9 NAMES)/ CIVIL DEFENCE, (NAME).
A small metal plaque is bedded into the stone on the south face of the plinth and reads BODMIN GRANITE CO/ BODMIN.
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 Lowfield Heath as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 37 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict and was in situ by June 1925 when a contemporary newspaper article reported on the opening of a memorial recreation ground and associated pavilion, which formed part of a wider war memorial scheme for the village. The cross in the churchyard had already been built by this point and the left over money raised for the church war memorial was later put towards the construction of the pavilion. A plaque on the memorial records that the granite was supplied by the Bodmin Granite Company.
Following the Second World War, the dates of that conflict and the names of the ten servicemen who died were added to the memorial. One of the casualties is recorded as being part of the Civil Defence when they were killed.
Reasons for Listing
Lowfield Heath War Memorial, which is situated in St Michael and All Angels’ churchyard, 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 well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Michael and All Angels.
External Links
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
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover