East Cowes War Memorial

Church of St James, Church Path, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6RL

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464880
Date first listed:: 13-Sep-2019
List Entry Name:: East Cowes War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church of St James, Church Path, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6RL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464880
Date first listed:: 13-Sep-2019
List Entry Name:: East Cowes War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Church of St James, Church Path, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6RL

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Church of St James, Church Path, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6RL

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Isle of Wight (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: East Cowes
National Grid Reference:: SZ5044095620

Summary

A First World War memorial of 1920, with later inscriptions from the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

East Cowes War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St James, 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-crafted, wheel-headed, First World War memorial with later Second World War inscriptions. Group value: * with the adjacent Church of St James, and its wall and gate piers, both listed at Grade II.

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. One such memorial was raised in East Cowes in 1920, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 58 servicemen from the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled by Field Marshal Lord Gort (1886-1946), who was awarded the Victoria Cross during this conflict, and later commanded the British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, including the Dunkirk evacuation.

The memorial was re-dedicated on 17 September 1950, after a further inscription was added commemorating the sacrifice made by 29 servicemen from the local community, who lost their lives in the Second World War. The ceremony was attended by Brigadier S J L Hill (1911-2006), who commanded the 3rd Parachute Brigade, during the Second World War.

Details

A First World War memorial of 1920, with later inscriptions from the Second World War. MATERIALS: granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial faces south-east and is located within the churchyard of the Church of St James, East Cowes. It takes the form of a granite wheel-head cross with a tapered shaft on a rough-hewn, granite base with sloping sides. A recessed panel on the front face of the plinth reads: ‘ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ AND THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’. The names of those who fell in the First World War are inscribed on recessed panels on the sides of the plinth while the names of those from the Second World War are inscribed on a recessed panel within a wedge-shaped stone, which is attached to the front face of the plinth.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum, accessed 30 May 2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/21795
IOW memorials, accessed 30 May 2019 from www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk/towns/eastcowes.htm
War Memorials Online asset WM10757 , accessed 30/5/2019 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/214817

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.