Savernake War Memorial

St Katharine's Church, Savernake, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

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Overview

War memorial, erected in the 1920s; further inscriptions added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1423270
Date first listed:: 06-Jan-2015
List Entry Name:: Savernake War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Katharine's Church, Savernake, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1423270
Date first listed:: 06-Jan-2015
List Entry Name:: Savernake War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Katharine's Church, Savernake, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

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:: St Katharine's Church, Savernake, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Great Bedwyn
National Grid Reference:: SU2520364890

Summary

War memorial, erected in the 1920s; further inscriptions added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial in the churchyard of St Katharine’s Church is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a crisply-carved composition that is well suited to its prominent location in the churchyard; * Group value: with the Grade II* listed Church of St Katharine’s.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever, with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected within the churchyard of St Katharine’s Church to commemorate the eight local men who died during the conflict. After the Second World War a further two names were added in memory of those men who died during the war.

Details

War memorial, erected in the 1920s; further inscriptions added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: constructed of limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial has an octagonal base on which are two steps; the lower of which is inscribed in black painted lettering: LEST WE FORGET; the upper with: DECLARATION OF WAR AUG 4 1914/ ARMISTICE NOVEMBER 11 1918/ PEACE SIGNED JUNE 28 1919. It also carries the names of the two men who died during the Second World War and 1939-1945. Above the steps is an octagonal plinth with a moulded base on which is inscribed: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY/ OF THE ABOVE/ MEN OF/ THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR. The names of the fallen are recorded on the faces of the plinth. The shaft is also octagonal and its lower and upper sections have a carved blind arcade of lancets with trefoil heads; the upper one is set within bands of incised strapwork. The upper part of the shaft takes the form of a capital with the inscription IHS to the north and south faces. It is surmounted by a Celtic cross with boss terminals to the arms and to four points of the circle.

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, 16 December 2016.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 16/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/169983
War Memorials Register, accessed 28/10/2014 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/43574

Legal

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