Ditcheat War Memorial

Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RB

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Overview

War memorial, erected in c1919. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1432193
Date first listed:: 20-Jan-2016
List Entry Name:: Ditcheat War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RB

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1432193
Date first listed:: 20-Jan-2016
List Entry Name:: Ditcheat War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene Church, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RB

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 Magdalene Church, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RB

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

District:: Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Ditcheat
National Grid Reference:: ST6251236328

Summary

War memorial, erected in c1919.

Reasons for Designation

Ditcheat War Memorial, which is situated within the churchyard, 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 memorial in the form of a wheel-head cross.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. One such memorial was erected in the churchyard in Ditcheat to commemorate the Fallen from the parish who lost their lives during the First World War. A newspaper article from November 1918 refers to the establishment of a committee of parishioners to consider commemoration proposals. A marble war memorial plaque was also erected in the church which names the sixteen men who died during the First World War and the four from the Second World War.

Details

War memorial, erected in c1919.

MATERIALS: carved from limestone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is octagonal on plan. It has a three-stepped base surmounted by an octagonal plinth with a tapering shaft with moulded top and a stylised wheel-head cross. The front (west) face of the plinth is inscribed: THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE HEROES/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FOUGHT AND FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918. A plaque at the base of the plinth is inscribed: WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 14 December 2016.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 08/12/2015 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/205113
War Memorials Register, accessed 14/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24581
Other
Ditcheat, Somerset and West of England Advertiser, Friday 29 November 1918

Legal

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