Summary
A First World War memorial, erected in 1924; altered by the addition of further names after the Second World War.
Description
A First World War memorial, erected in 1924; altered by the addition of further names after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a cross pattee on a tapering plinth on a square base. A Latin cross is carved in relief on the south face of the cross head. The south face of the plinth bears lead lettering which reads ERECTED/ TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE OLD SCHOLARS/ OF WHITTINGTON SCHOOL/ WHO FELL DURING THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The names of the 19 fallen from that conflict are recorded on the remaining faces of the plinth. The south face of the base reads ALSO IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE MEN OF WHITTINGTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE 2ND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945. The names of the 13 fallen from this conflict are listed on the east and west faces of the best.
The memorial stands on a paved area next to the former village school. Metal railings and a gate to the south of the memorial provide access from the pavement.
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 Whittington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 19 former pupils of the local school who lost their lives in the First World War.
Whittington War Memorial was unveiled on 20 April 1924 by Colonel BT Seckham and dedicated by Reverend DM Cohu. It was designed by Mr W Bramley, headmaster of Whittington School, with the work carried out by Mr Lamb of Lichfield.
Following the Second World War the names of 13 fallen from that conflict were added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
The war memorial outside the former village school in Whittington 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 church’s community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* for its design, a well-executed granite cross with neat inscriptions.
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
England's Post-War Listed Buildings
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)