Building record 15810/2 - Poynton War Memorial

<1> Historic England, From 2015, Notification of inclusion, amendment or removal from the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, Gould J, 31/08/2016 (Written Communication). SCH7787.

First World War memorial of 1920 with Second World War additions. 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 Poynton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates thirty-three local servicemen who died during the First World War.

It was unveiled in 1920 by Lord Vernon. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the thirty-one fallen of that conflict. In 2012 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. A name was also added to the memorial.

Poynton War Memorial comprises a Latin cross enriched with carved scrollwork decorative details on the cross and collar. The cross rises from a tall tapering octagonal shaft which stands on a square plinth and three-stepped base. The plinth carries the black leaded inscriptions.

The main dedication reads: TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD/ FOR THE MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF POYNTON/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The names of those who lost their lives are inscribed on the sides of the plinth

Around the base are the following inscriptions: ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF POYNTON/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ WHOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.

Set into the steps of the base are four rectangular inclined tablets dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Second World War. The dedicatory plaque reads: IN MEMORY OF THOSE OF POYNTON/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1939 – 1945/ THEY SHALL GROW NOT OLD,/ AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD;/ AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM,/ NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN./ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING/ WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM.

The memorial is surrounded by a low stone kerbed enclosure.

<2> Historic England, 2011, The National Heritage List for England, 1437426 (Web Site). SCH6528.

<3> Imperial War Museum, Imperial War Museum: War Memorials Register, WMO/81844 (Digital Archive). SCH7820.

<4> War Memorials Trust, War Memorials Online, https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/81844 (Web Site). SCH9383.