Building record 266/1/10 - Moreton Pinkney War Memorial

First World War memorial erected in 1920 and unveiled by Sir Arthur Dryden

{1} List Entry Description

Summary of Building
First World War memorial erected in 1920 and unveiled by Sir Arthur Dryden.

Reasons for Designation
Moreton Pinkney war memorial, which is situated in St Mary’s 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War.

Architectural interest:
* An elegant Latin cross memorial with finely carved Celtic knot work detail.

Group value:
* For its relationship with the Grade II* listed Church of St Mary and several Grade II listed headstones
within the churchyard.

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, 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 Moreton Pinkney as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the four members of the local community who fell in the First World War. It was erected by November 1920 and was unveiled by Sir Arthur Dryden.

Details
First World War memorial erected in 1920 and unveiled by Sir Arthur Dryden.
DESCRIPTION: Moreton Pinkney War Memorial is located within the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade II* listed) in close proximity to several Grade II listed headstones. It consists of a stone Latin cross in the Celtic style with carved knot work detail on the front (east) face. The shaft rises from a tapering square plinth, surmounting a two stepped base on a narrow, square block. INSCRIPTION: the dedication is incised into the front (east) of the plinth and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN THANKFULNESS TO HIM/ FOR THE WONDERFUL VICTORY/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ AND THE RIGHT IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHONERS OF/ MORETON PINKNEY.
The rear (west) face is incised with four names.

<1> Historic England, 2017, Moreton Pinkney War Memorial (Designation Advice Report). SNN110775.

<2> Imperial War Museum, Imperial War Museum Register, Memorial 15083. Accessed 29 June 2017 (Website). SNN110774.

<3> https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, War Memorials Online, Memorial 108774. Accessed 29 June 2017 (Website). SNN110618.

<4> 1920, Banbury Guardian, p. 7 (Journal). SNN110776.

Record last edited

Aug 8 2017 9:50AM