Towcester War Memorial

Brackley Road Cemetery, Brackley Road, Towcester, NN12 8HJ

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

Overview

First World War memorial unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1426136
Date first listed:: 07-May-2015
List Entry Name:: Towcester War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Brackley Road Cemetery, Brackley Road, Towcester, NN12 8HJ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1426136
Date first listed:: 07-May-2015
List Entry Name:: Towcester War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Brackley Road Cemetery, Brackley Road, Towcester, NN12 8HJ

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:: Brackley Road Cemetery, Brackley Road, Towcester, NN12 8HJ

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

District:: West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Towcester
National Grid Reference:: SP6854348405

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Towcester’s War Memorial, which stands in the town’s Brackley Road cemetery, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

History

Towcester War Memorial commemorates the 62 servicemen who died during the First World War. It was designed and built by Messrs. Pullen of Bridge Street, Northampton and unveiled on 2 May 1920 by Major General Mott. Inscriptions were added to commemorate the 12 servicemen who died during the Second World War.

Details

The memorial stands alongside the chapel in the town’s Brackley Road cemetery. Of flecked granite and 3m high, it takes the form of an octagonal base surmounted by a square plinth from which rises a Latin cross. The cross shaft and arms are octagonal in section. Each corner of the plinth is ornamented with a blind lancet.

Inscribed in black lettering on the front face of the plinth is 1914 THE GREAT WAR 1918./ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS./ REMEMBER WITH THANKSGIVING THE/ TRUE AND FAITHFUL MEN, WHO IN/ THESE YEARS OF WAR, WENT FORTH/ FROM THIS PLACE FOR GOD AND THE RIGHT/ THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO RETURNED/ NOT AGAIN ARE HERE INSCRIBED TO/ BE HONOURED FOR EVERMORE.

The ranks and names are recorded on the remaining three sides of the plinth. On the chamfered top of the plinth is inscribed TO THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR FREEDOM IN/ THE WAR 1939-1945. On the opposite side is THEIR NAMES SHALL/ NOT BE FORGOTTEN. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the other sides of the chamfer.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 14/10/2015

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, 17 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/188324
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/15042
Other
Northampton Mercury, 7 May 1920

Legal

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