Litton Cheney War Memorial

Churchyard of St Mary's Church, Church Path, Litton Cheney, Dorset, DT2 9AH

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Overview

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added later. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1427996
Date first listed:: 18-Aug-2015
List Entry Name:: Litton Cheney War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, Church Path, Litton Cheney, Dorset, DT2 9AH

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1427996
Date first listed:: 18-Aug-2015
List Entry Name:: Litton Cheney War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, Church Path, Litton Cheney, Dorset, DT2 9AH

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:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, Church Path, Litton Cheney, Dorset, DT2 9AH

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

District:: Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Litton Cheney
National Grid Reference:: SY5516090720

Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added later.

Reasons for Designation

Litton Cheney war memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * 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; * Group value: with the Grade I listed church of St Mary and four Grade II listed monuments in the churchyard.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in circa 1920 to commemorate nine men of Litton Cheney who died during the conflict. A further inscription was added to the memorial following the Second World War, to commemorate six men who lost their lives during that conflict.

Details

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920, with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added later.

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite set in a concrete foundation.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church. It is immediately west of the porch of the Grade I listed medieval church. The memorial comprises a Celtic cross with a tapering shaft, c2m high, set upon a trapezoidal plinth and square base 0.8m high. A longsword is carved in raised relief on the cross; the crossguard of the sword matching where the cross’ shaft and crossarm meet. The front of the plinth has a flat recess, upon which is the inscription: IN/ HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ (NAMES). Nine names appear upon it with service branch or regiment. The base is inscribed 1939-1945/ (NAMES), with six names and service branch or regiment.

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, 7 December 2016.

Sources

Websites
Litton Cheney in the Bride Valley: Litton Cheney War Memorial, accessed 1 June 2015 from http://www.littoncheney.org.uk/st%20marys%20church%203.htm
War Memorials Online, accessed 07/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/121453
War Memorials Register, accessed 07/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1056

Legal

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