Church Monuments Society

More about this monument

Bonvilston war memorial comprises a Forest stone cross which was erected on the surviving medieval stepped base in St Mary’s churchyard; Figure 1.

A new front top step or ‘landing stone’, also of Forest stone; Figure 2, bears the following inscription between two carved wreaths labelled 1914 and 1918:-

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
ANGUS ALEXANDER MACKINTOSH OF MACKINTOSH. CAPT.
GEORGE GILBERT TRAHERNE. CAPT.
CHARLES L. WYNDHAM WILLIAMS. MIDSHIPMAN. R.N.
DAVID HENRY HIGGINS, SAPPR. HENRY LEONARD THOMAS. THOMAS HOBBS.
WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES DURING THE GREAT WAR.

In the churchyard wall facing the A48 road a tablet of  Portland stone was erected bearing the names of all those of the parish and district who served.. The original inscription and list of names is now covered by a polished grey granite plaque within the original frame; Figure 3. The inscription and list of names is shown below.

History

In April 1919 Harry Gregory started work on design for the wall tablet and his drawing has survived; Figure 4. Bath and Portland Stone Firms Ltd. supplied stone for the tablet in September and Mirey Stock Quarries of Bristol supplied Forest stone for the cross in November. Work was completed in April 1920. The architectural sculptor W. W. Taylor was responsible for carving the wreaths on the landing stone and the decoration on the tablet frame. In total the work took about 1,588 man hours. Day works and expenses for the cross and repairs to existing steps came to £95:11:8 and for the tablet, including modification of the wall to which it was fixed, came to £78:18s:6d. The total bill was £195:9s:9d representing an overall profit of about 12%. The cross was unveiled by Mrs. Mackintosh of Mackintosh and dedicated by Bishop Crossley at a memorial service held on Wednesday May 19th 1920.

Day Book and Bill Book records are appended.