Clavering War Memorial

War Memorial in the grounds of United Reform Church, (now known as the Christian Centre), Stortford Road, Claveing, Saffron Walden

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Overview

First World War memorial erected in 1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1418866
Date first listed:: 26-Mar-2014
List Entry Name:: Clavering War Memorial
Statutory Address:: War Memorial in the grounds of United Reform Church, (now known as the Christian Centre), Stortford Road, Claveing, Saffron Walden

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1418866
Date first listed:: 26-Mar-2014
List Entry Name:: Clavering War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: War Memorial in the grounds of United Reform Church, (now known as the Christian Centre), Stortford Road, Claveing, Saffron Walden

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: War Memorial in the grounds of United Reform Church, (now known as the Christian Centre), Stortford Road, Claveing, Saffron Walden

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Essex
District:: Uttlesford (District Authority)
Parish:: Clavering
National Grid Reference:: TL4735031740

Summary

First World War memorial erected in 1921.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial, erected in 1921, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: it has special historic interest commemorating those members of the community who died in the First and Second World Wars; * Design interest: due to the almost haphazard manner in which the roughly hewn stones have been laid, the memorial gives the impression of being a fragment of a village or churchyard cross.

History

The war memorial was erected in 1921 to the memory of the fallen in the First World War, and the names of the fallen in the Second World War were subsequently added. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Rev. Evans Morgan of Newport who was assisted by Rev. F. Morton, vicar of the parish, and Rev. A. Cook of Stansted. It is not known who designed the memorial but it may have been Messrs J. Day & Son of Bishops Stortford who were responsible for its construction.

The memorial was placed in the grounds of the former Congregational Chapel (now the Christian Centre) which was designed by Sulman & Rhodes in 1872. It is said that members of the Congregational Church and those of the parish Church of St Mary and St Clement could not agree on a site so they each provided their own. In 2011 a grant from War Memorials Trust enabled the conservation and repair of the memorial which involved fixing the stone slabs with slate wedges, repointing, and cleaning.

Details

First World War memorial erected in 1921.

MATERIALS: rough hewn grey granite blocks with a tooled finish, and foundation slab of Yorkshire stone.

PLAN: the memorial stands in front of the east-facing former Congregational Chapel.

EXTERIOR: the memorial is in the form of a monolith resting on a plinth, approximately 2.5m high. The stones are arranged in a haphazard manner, heavily scored in places, and are surmounted by a triangular-shaped capstone. On the front (east side) of the memorial is a tall white Sicilian marble panel inlaid with the cross of sacrifice and crown of victory. The inscription reads: ‘1914-1919/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF CLAVERING/ WHO WENT FORTH TO/ THE GREAT WAR/ AND RETURNED NOT AGAIN [their names]/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE’. The back (west side) of the memorial bears a small tablet with the following inscription: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN MEMORY OF/ [their names]/ WORLD WAR 1939-1945.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 12 January 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
Bettley, J, Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Essex, (2007)
'Saffron Walden Weekly News' in Saffron Walden Weekly News, (May 6 1921)
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138067
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22600

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.