Building record 1934/1/3 - WWI War Memorial c.6m. South of Church of St. John the Baptist

A grade II listed war memorial fitted into the base of a medieval churchyard cross

{1} (Main Street is shown on Ordnance Survey map as High Street.) Churchyard cross, now war memorial. Probably C15, restored early C20. Limestone ashlar. Octagonal medieval socket with square base is mounted on 2 C20 octagonal steps and has C20 octagonal shaft with cross. Inscription around second step, "This cross was restored in memory of those men of Slipton, who died in the Great War 1914-1919". Names are listed below this inscription. Included for group value.

{3} Slipton’s war memorial, which stands in its churchyard, is designated at Grade II for the following 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;
* Design: a well executed medieval-style cross incorporating part of a real medieval churchyard cross;
* Group value with the Grade II*-listed church of St John the Baptist.
History
The memorial was presumably constructed c.1920 like the majority of those in England.
Details
The war memorial stands alongside the Grade II*-listed church of St John the Baptist, which stands well outside the village. It takes the form of a limestone cross on an octagonal shaft of c. 1920, set in an octagonal, perhaps C15, medieval churchyard cross socket with a square base mounted on two octagonal steps (c. 1920). An inscription in raised lettering running around the second step reads THIS CROSS WAS RESTORED IN MEMORY OF THOSE MEN OF SLIPTON, WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919. The names of those who fell are listed below the inscription.

{5} Undated photo.

{6} The cross base is situated at SP 9526 7933. See photograph.

{7} Only the socket stone is not modern. The cross may occupy the site of a predecessor but the process of resetting has involved considerable ground disturbance and the laying of a concrete raft foundation. Loose soil around this raft contained fragments of human bone. Too little of the medieval cross survives and the ground disturbance is too great to allow a scheduling in this case.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/116 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 p.56 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2014, Minor Amendments to the List, 2014, 17/12/2014 (checked) (Correspondence). SNN110006.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP97NE16 (checked) (Index). SNN443.

<5> Photographs of buildings in Lowick (Photographs). SNN112775.

<6> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 30-OCT-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<7> English Heritage Alternative Action Report, Went, C. 09-MAY-1997 (Report). SNN113037.

Record last edited

Jun 6 2023 4:21PM