Irchester War Memorial

Memorial Garden, Junction of High Street and Wollaston Road, Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AA

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Overview

First World War memorial, 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:: 1428261
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2015
List Entry Name:: Irchester War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Memorial Garden, Junction of High Street and Wollaston Road, Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AA

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1428261
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2015
List Entry Name:: Irchester War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Memorial Garden, Junction of High Street and Wollaston Road, Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AA

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:: Memorial Garden, Junction of High Street and Wollaston Road, Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AA

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

District:: North Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Irchester
National Grid Reference:: SP9250465595

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Irchester War Memorial, which stands off High Street in a small memorial garden, 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 made in the conflicts of the C20; * Design: a substantial stone pillar.

History

Irchester War Memorial, unveiled in 1920, was funded by public subscription. The names of servicemen who died during the Second World War, and of nine villagers who were killed in an air raid on 20 May 1941, were added at a later date.

Details

The war memorial, of limestone on a sandstone base, stands in an elevated railed garden off High Street. It comprises a 5m tall, square-sectioned, pillar surmounted by a capstone with an out-sailing cornice, on which is raised a domed cap. A small Latin cross rises from the top.

A large slate panel to the front face is inscribed OUR GLORIOUS DEAD, with the names of the 76 fallen beneath. ‘FOR EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS’ is inscribed below. On the stage beneath the main pillar a slate panel is inscribed WORLD WAR II. 1939 - 1945 (17 NAMES).

A slate panel on the rear of the pillar is inscribed ERECTED/ BY/ PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE IRCHESTER MEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. A sloping stone panel at the base of the front of the monument commemorates nine villagers killed in an air raid on 20 May 1941.

The memorial is approached by steps flanked by metre-high limestone walls. Around it is a sloping memorial garden contemporary with the memorial, defined by iron railings; decorative gates give access to the steps. Two modern flagpoles have been erected either side of the memorial at the top of the garden.

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. This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 4 January 2022 to correct a typo in the address

Sources

Websites
"History and Development of the Parish of Irchester", Irchester, Knuston & Little Irchester Neighbourhood Plan, accessed 28/04/2015 from http://www.irchesterparishnhp.com/history-development-of-the-parish-of-irchester/
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/185824
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14955

Legal

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