NHER 63919 (Structure) - World War One memorial with World War Two additions, Sporle with Palgrave

World War One Memorial with World War Two Additions
Location: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, The Street, Sporle.
Type: Wheel-head Cross
Description:
The memorial is constructed from grey granite, in the form of a freestanding, rough-hewn, wheel-head cross. It is used to commemorate fifteen local servicemen (including one later addition) who died in World War One, and latterly six men who died in World War Two. The cross is described as having a “Sword of Sacrifice in relief on a plinth with single-stepped base”. Which “stands on a slightly domed ‘rockery’ style base” (S1). There are inscriptions in leaded lettering. The former World War One dedication starts at the bottom of the cross shaft (Inscription A), continues below onto the front face of plinth with fifteen associated names (Inscription B), and ends on the base below (Inscription C). The latter World War Two dedication is to the rear face, along with six associated names (Inscription D; the position of inscriptions identified from S4 and S5 photographs). The whole is enclosed by a “post and chain enclosure” (S1). With any enclosed lawn space replaced with block-paving sometime in 2016.
Proposed: Date unknown.
Designed by: Unknown
Constructed/Sculpted By: Unknown.
Cost: Unknown
Unveiled: 07 August 1921 (by Sir R. Winfrey, MP).
Inscription A: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND
Inscription B: IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF SPORLE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”
Inscription C: “MAY THEY REST IN PEACE”
Inscription D: ALSO OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ JESU, MERCY.
Information from Listing Description (S1) and Historic England Advice Report (S2).
See War Memorials On-line (S4) for images, the War Memorials Register (S5) for images, names and additional details, and 1921 newspaper article (S6).
P. Beers (HES), 15 June 2020. Amended A. Henderson (HES), 14 January 2025.

June 2018. Listed. Grade II.
See Listing Description (S1), Advice Report (S2) and Consultation Report (S3) for details.
See also War Memorials On-line (S4) and War Memorials Register (S5).
P. Beers (HES), 15 June 2020.