War Memorial
WAR MEMORIAL, MARKET PLACE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1393823
- Date first listed:
- 27-May-2010
- List Entry Name:
- War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- WAR MEMORIAL, MARKET PLACE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1393823
- Date first listed:
- 27-May-2010
- List Entry Name:
- War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- WAR MEMORIAL, MARKET PLACE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- WAR MEMORIAL, MARKET PLACE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Somerton
- National Grid Reference:
- ST4904428553
Reasons for Designation
The Somerton War Memorial is recommended for designation at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * Historic: It is poignant record of the impact of tragic world events on the community and commemorates both servicemen and civilians lost in the conflict * Architectural: Designed to specifications by the War Office, it is a handsome and well executed example * Group value: It has strong visual group value with the surrounding listed buildings and scheduled monument.
Details
SOMERTON
508/0/10015 MARKET PLACE
27-MAY-10 (Northwest side)
War Memorial
GV II
DESCRIPTION
War memorial, erected 1921.
MATERIALS: Built of Portland stone.
PLAN: It has a square plan.
DESCRIPTION: The memorial consists a square three stepped base, upon which stands a square plinth surmounted by a Royal Artillery soldier standing in the reversed arms position, with stripes for long service and good conduct. The cornice of the front, southerly facade of the plinth has inscribed 'LEST WE FORGET' beneath which, on the plinth itself is 'IN GRATEFUL AND EVERLASTING / MEMORY OF THE SOMERTON MEN / WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR / THEIR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919' and then the names of the officers and NCOs who lost their lives during World War I, with the names of ordinary soldiers and sailors on the east and west facades. The north facade shows the names of the soldiers who died during the Second World War, and those civilians who died during the 1942 German bombing of the Cow & Gate milk factory in nearby Etsome. The memorial stands in a prominent position in Market Place in the centre of the village, surrounded by listed buildings and within the Somerton conservation area.
HISTORY: The great age of memorial building was in the aftermath of the First World War, giving communities an opportunity to honour and mark their fallen. The Somerton memorial was dedicated on 21 May 1921.
RESONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
The Somerton War Memorial is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* Historic: It is poignant record of the impact of tragic world events on the community and commemorates both servicemen and civilians lost in the conflict
* Architectural: Designed to specifications by the War Office, it is a handsome and well executed example
* Group value: It has strong visual group value with the surrounding listed buildings and scheduled monument.
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, 31 January 2018.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 508242
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 14 December 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2093
War Memorials Online, accessed 31 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/193742
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 26-Jun-2026 at 06:26:29.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.