Sidmouth War Memorial

The Church of St Giles and St Nicholas, Church Lane, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LG

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

Overview

Sidmouth war memorial, erected 1920-21, to a design by R W Sampson. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1427938
Date first listed:: 15-Jul-2015
List Entry Name:: Sidmouth War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Church of St Giles and St Nicholas, Church Lane, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1427938
Date first listed:: 15-Jul-2015
List Entry Name:: Sidmouth War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The Church of St Giles and St Nicholas, Church Lane, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LG

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 Church of St Giles and St Nicholas, Church Lane, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8LG

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

County:: Devon
District:: East Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Sidmouth
National Grid Reference:: SY1255487343

Summary

Sidmouth war memorial, erected 1920-21, to a design by R W Sampson.

Reasons for Designation

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION

The war memorial at Sidmouth is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historical: as a poignant reminder of the tragic impact of world events upon this community; * Design: designed by prominent local architect R W Sampson, the Celtic cross on its elegantly tapered column, set on a tiered base, makes a striking focus within the churchyard, and within Sidmouth town centre; * Group Value: with the Church of St Giles and St Nicholas, listed at Grade II*, and with other listed buildings surrounding the church, including the early C19 house which is now the War Memorial Service Men’s Club.

History

The war memorial was constructed in the churchyard of St Giles and St Nicholas in 1920-21, to commemorate the men of Sidmouth who fell during the First World War. The structure was designed by the prominent local architect R W Sampson (1866-1950). At the same time two marble wall tablets were erected within the church itself, recording the details of those 117 who were lost. An additional inscription was added to the churchyard memorial commemorating the fallen of the Second World War; a wall tablet bearing 52 names is also within the church. The memorial stands to the south of the church, towards the southern churchyard gates.

Details

War memorial, erected 1920-21. The architect was R W Sampson.

Materials: Granite.

Description: a Celtic cross on a tall tapering column, the cross rising continuously from the column. The wheel of the cross, carved with knots, is 30cm in diameter. The column, with recessed panels, and a knot motif below the head of the cross, is 2.75m high. The cross stands on a four-tier base, the lower parts of which are octagonal, the highest being four-sided with recessed panels to the faces and curved blocks set within the corners. The principal part of the base has a cornice and recessed panels, the original inscription being set within the south-east face, towards the entrance to the churchyard: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND / IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF / SIDMOUTH / WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1918 / THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE’. On the opposing face is the later inscription, added after the Second World War: ‘ALSO OF THOSE WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939-1945 / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS.’ In front of each inscribed panel is a small granite flower-holder. The whole memorial stands on two octagonal steps.

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, 4 October 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
Golding, B, Sidmouth's War, (2014)
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 07/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/98742
War Memorials Register, accessed 01/06/2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25408
War Memorials Register, accessed 4 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25409
War Memorials Register, accessed 01/06/2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25410
Other
Devon HER Monument Full Report: MDV104394

Legal

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