Great Houghton War Memorial
High Street, Great Houghton, Northamptonshire, NN4 7AF
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1428182
- Date first listed:
- 04-Aug-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Great Houghton War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- High Street, Great Houghton, Northamptonshire, NN4 7AF
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1428182
- Date first listed:
- 04-Aug-2015
- List Entry Name:
- Great Houghton War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- High Street, Great Houghton, Northamptonshire, NN4 7AF
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:
- High Street, Great Houghton, Northamptonshire, NN4 7AF
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Great Houghton
- National Grid Reference:
- SP7922058996
Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Great Houghton War Memorial, which stands on High Street facing the village church, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: a well-executed medieval-style cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed church of St Mary the Virgin.
History
Built at a cost of £150, Great Houghton War Memorial was unveiled on 3 October 1920 by General Lord Horne KCB. The names of two servicemen from the village who died during the Second World War were added at a later date.
Details
The war memorial stands in a small garden across the road from the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the Virgin. The garden is at the west end of The Cross, an open space in the centre of the village which affords views of the memorial from all bar the northern side. The raised location, accessed from the road by six steps, is said to mark the position of a tree around which the commemorated First World War servicemen had played as young children.
The c6m tall sandstone memorial comprises a cross with a foliate wheel-head. This is set on a square-sectioned shaft, rising from a square plinth. That stands on a three-stage octagonal base. The inscriptions on the plinth are carved, now in parts heavily eroded.
(west face) IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF GREAT HOUGHTON WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 –1919./ WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945.
(north face) (6 NAMES)
(west face) (6 NAMES)
Around the base of the plinth is inscribed GREATER LOVE HATH NO/ [largely illegible MAN THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/] LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
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, 17 January 2017.
Sources
Websites
Great Houghton Village History, accessed 05/05/2015 from www.greathoughton.org.uk/04%20village%20history.pdf
War Memorials Register, accessed 17/06/2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1314
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/168413
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 12-Jun-2026 at 12:35:55.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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