Building record 5046/0/15 - Great Houghton War Memorial

The memorial is situated in a small garden at the west end of The Cross in the centre of Great Houghton, in close proximity to the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the Virgin. It is within Great Houghton Village Conservation Area. There are no known threats to the memorial.

{1} List Entry Description
Summary of Building
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Great Houghton War Memorial, which stands on High Street facing the village church, 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 local community, and
the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: a well-executed medieval-style cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed church of St Mary the Virgin.
History
Built at a cost of £150, Great Houghton War Memorial was unveiled on 3 October 1920 by General Lord
Horne KCB. The names of two servicemen from the village who died during the Second World War were
added at a later date.
Details
The war memorial stands in a small garden across the road from the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the
Virgin. The garden is at the west end of The Cross, an open space in the centre of the village which affords
views of the memorial from all bar the northern side. The raised location, accessed from the road by six
steps, is said to mark the position of a tree around which the commemorated First World War servicemen
had played as young children.
The c6m tall sandstone memorial comprises a cross with a foliate wheel-head. This is set on a
square-sectioned shaft, rising from a square plinth. That stands on a three-stage octagonal base. The
inscriptions on the plinth are carved, now in parts heavily eroded.
(west face) IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF GREAT HOUGHTON WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR
COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 –1919./ WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945.
(north face) (6 NAMES)
(west face) (6 NAMES)
Around the base of the plinth is inscribed GREATER LOVE HATH NO/ [largely illegible MAN THAN THIS
THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/] LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Selected Sources
Websites
Great Houghton Village History, accessed 05/05/2015 from
www.greathoughton.org.uk/04%20village%20history.pdf
Imperial War Museum, War Memorials Archive, accessed 17/06/2015 from
http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1314

<1> Historic England, 2015, Great Houghton War Memorial (Designation Advice Report). SNN110090.

Record last edited

Aug 17 2015 1:07PM