Listed Building: Elvaston War Memorial (1440918)

'Summary First World War memorial, unveiled 1923, with later additions for the Second World War. Reasons for Designation Elvaston War Memorial, on the corner of Main Road and Silver Lane, 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 substantial stone wheel-head cross. 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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Elvaston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial, which cost circa £100, was unveiled on 30 May 1923 by the Countess of Harrington and dedicated by the Bishop of Derby. It commemorates 15 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of two men who died in that conflict were added. Details The memorial stands on the corner of Main Road and Silver Lane in a small hedged enclosure. It comprises a rough-hewn Celtic wheel cross on a tapering shaft, set on a three-stage octagonal base. Inscribed on the front of the shaft is 1914-1918/ REMEMBER/ ALL YE/ WHO PASS THIS WAY/ (NAMES)/ DIED FOR ENGLAND. Added on the uppermost stage of the base in the same style is 1939-1945/ (NAMES). The enclosure has a stone kerb to the front with three steps to the centre. This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 17 February 2017. Sources Websites War Memorials Online, accessed 17 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/198257 War Memorials Register, accessed 17 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/55587 Other “Elvaston Memorial”, Derby Daily Telegraph, 31 May 1923, p4.' (1)