Glastonbury War Memorial
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1431598
- Date first listed:
- 19-Jan-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Glastonbury War Memorial
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1431598
- Date first listed:
- 19-Jan-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Glastonbury War Memorial
- Location Description:
- High Street, Glastonbury, Mendip, Somerset
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
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Glastonbury
- National Grid Reference:
- ST5002038978
Summary
A First World War memorial, dating from 1920 and designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, altered by the names of the fallen of the Second World War after 1945.
Reasons for Designation
Glastonbury War Memorial, designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, 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;
* Design: a well executed stone cross, with interesting detailing.
History
This First World War memorial was unveiled in 1920 and was designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, the noted architect, archaeologist and researcher who at that time was Director of Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey.
The memorial was altered following the Second World War by the addition of the names of the fallen of that conflict.
Details
A First World War Memorial of 1920, altered by the names of the fallen of the Second World War.
MATERIALS AND PLAN
The memorial is built of Doulting stone and is rectangular on plan.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial stands approximately 6m high and consists of a Maltese cross on a shaft which sits on a tapering plinth. The cross has at its centre an emblem symbolising the first two letters of the Greek name of Christ, with the letters N I K H in the four arms, for the Greek 'Nike', meaning Victory.
The shaft is decorated with carved Celtic plait work designs, and has at its centre a further carved symbol showing two birds eating from the Tree of Life, representing the immortality of the soul. At the base of the shaft is a plaque commemorating the fallen of the Second World War, with the inscription, "THIS TABLET WAS ADDED/ IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE/ WORLD WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ (NAMES)/ THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE".
The plinth contains plaques commemorating the fallen of the First World War, with the inscription, "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS TOWN WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ (NAMES)/ THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE/ ALSO IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION OF THOSE WHO RETURNED".
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES
The memorial stands on a stone stepped base.
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, 14 December 2016.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 14/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1408
War Memorials Online, accessed 14/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/121116
Other
Wells Journal, 2nd January 1920
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 30-Jun-2026 at 09:56:19.
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.