Bedford War Memorial

The Embankment, Bedford

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

Overview

War memorial, commemorating the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1420018
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2014
List Entry Name:: Bedford War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Embankment, Bedford

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1420018
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2014
List Entry Name:: Bedford War Memorial
Location Description:: Between The Embankment and The Promenade, Bedford

NGR: TL0562349602
Statutory Address 1:: The Embankment, Bedford

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:: The Embankment, Bedford

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

District:: Bedford (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TL0562349603

Summary

War memorial, commemorating the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.

Reasons for Designation

Bedford War Memorial, unveiled in 1922, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historical interest: it is a moving reminder of the impact on the community not only of two World Wars but of the Korean War; * Design: the memorial is a striking and unusual design, expressive of courage and triumph, executed by the noted sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger. Jagger is known particularly for his collaborative and individual designs for war memorials, and this is a typically imaginative and finely executed example of his work.

History

The War Memorial in Bedford was designed by the sculptor Charles Sargeant Jagger and erected by the builder G F Loughton. Bollards surrounding the memorial were designed by George P Allen. The memorial, erected in commemoration of those who died in the Great War of 1914 -1919, was unveiled in 1922 by Lord Ampthill. No names are included in the inscription for that war, nor as part of the inscriptions added subsequently to commemorate World War II and the Korean War.

Charles Sargeant Jagger (1885-1934) created both monumental sculptures and smaller works, exhibiting at the Royal Academy between 1913 and 1934, but is best known for his collaborative and individual designs for war memorials. Jagger served in the First World War, receiving the Military Cross for gallantry.

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, 16 January 2017.

Details

War Memorial, First and Second World Wars and the Korean War; unveiled 1922 by Lord Ampthill; sculptor, Charles Sargeant Jagger; surrounding bollards designed by George P Allen; builder, G F Loughton.

MATERIALS: the sculpture is in Carrara marble and the pedestal is Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial occupies a prominent position between the Embankment and the Promenade, on the north bank of the River Ouse. The cloaked figure of a knight (presumably representing St George), arms folded in triumph, stands firmly upright between the wings of a slain dragon slumped over a square plinth, its claws clutching the front edge, its tail hanging down behind. Below is a pedestal standing on a base and two steps. The steps are at the centre of a square stone platform surrounded by domed octagonal bollards linked by chains, one to each corner and one to the centre of each side.

There are inscriptions to three sides of the pedestal. The first commemorating World War I reads; 1914 + 1919 TO BEFORDIANS WHO DIED MANY IN EARLY YOUTH SOME FULL OF YEARS AND HONOUR BUT WHO ALL ALIKE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY: that to World War II reads; 1939 + 1945 TO COMMEMORATE THE STRUGGLE AND SACRIFICE OF BEDFORDIANS; and to the Korean War; 1950 + 1953 TO COMMEMORATE THE KOREAN WAR. No names are recorded.

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, 16 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/120682
War Memorials Register, accessed 16 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1861

Legal

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