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
- 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
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial 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
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 19-Jul-2026 at 09:57:09.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.