Longwick War Memorial

Thame Road, Longwick

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Monument to the fallen of the First and Second World War unveiled and dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham on 10th October 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1419466
Date first listed:: 22-Apr-2014
List Entry Name:: Longwick War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Thame Road, Longwick

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1419466
Date first listed:: 22-Apr-2014
List Entry Name:: Longwick War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Thame Road, Longwick

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:: Thame Road, Longwick

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

District:: Buckinghamshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Longwick-cum-Ilmer
National Grid Reference:: SP7898204801

Summary

Monument to the fallen of the First and Second World War unveiled and dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham on 10th October 1920.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial at Longwick, erected in 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by this small community in the First and Second World Wars, it is of strong historic and cultural significance both at local and national level; * Architectural interest: for the quality of the design and craftsmanship of this sombre and dignified memorial.

History

It is not known who crafted the memorial, but it was unveiled and dedicated by the Bishop of Buckingham on 10th October 1920. This unveiling was particularly poignant because three of the bishop's four sons had died in the war and there is a memorial window to them in All Saints Church, High Wycombe (Buckinghamshire).

The names of those who fell in the Great War are inscribed on the plinth, but below this is an additional stone plaque, set at an angle on the lowest step, with the inscribed names of those who fell in the Second World War.

Details

War memorial, erected 1920.

A granite Celtic cross with slightly tapering shaft. This sits on a rough stone plinth with a rough stone two-stepped base. There is decorative knotwork and a central boss on the cross face. The memorial is surrounded by a paved area and an iron fence and gate with spearhead finials.

A polished area on the front of the plinth has a black-painted lead lettering inscription which reads:

THIS STONE WAS ERECTED/ BY THE INHABITANTS & FRIENDS OF LONG WICK/ IN HONOUR & EVERLASTING MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE WORLDS GREAT WAR./ 1914-1919.

Beneath this are the fourteen names of the fallen from 1914-1919, in two columns of seven, and at the base of the plaque an inscription which reads:

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS".

Beneath, and at an angle on the step of the plinth is a stone tablet which bears the names of the seven men who lost their lives in the 1939-1945 conflict, and beneath the names is an inscription which reads:

"THEY SHALL BE REMEMBERED".

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, 11 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
Showcase Results Longstock, accessed from http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=469
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/115021
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/8299

Legal

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