Hartwell War Memorial

Located within the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hartwell, Northamptonshire, NN7 2HU

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Overview

First World War memorial, c. 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1433013
Date first listed:
10-Mar-2016
List Entry Name:
Hartwell War Memorial
Statutory Address:
Located within the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hartwell, Northamptonshire, NN7 2HU
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1433013
Date first listed:
10-Mar-2016
List Entry Name:
Hartwell War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
Located within the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hartwell, Northamptonshire, NN7 2HU

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
Located within the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Hartwell, Northamptonshire, NN7 2HU

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

District:
West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Hartwell
National Grid Reference:
SP7852750425

Summary

First World War memorial, c. 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Hartwell War Memorial, alongside the church of St John the Baptist, is listed at Grade II for the following 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;
* Group value: with the Grade II* listed church of St John the Baptist

History

Hartwell has two war memorials, arising from a difference of opinion within the village about the most appropriate form of remembrance. Some wanted a wooden cenotaph near the centre of the village to represent the close proximity of Salcey Forest to Hartwell, and the influence it had on it. This, unveiled on Forest Road in 1921, is listed at Grade II. Another faction wanted a stone memorial in the churchyard of the church of St John the Baptist. The stone memorial was unveiled on Saturday 4 December 1920 by Lt. Colonel Sir Hereward Wake, with the dedication by the Bishop of Leicester.

Details

First World War memorial, c. 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands close to the south door of the church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*). It is a limestone cross c. 3m high, its head of the St James pattern. That is set on an octagonal shaft rising from a short, square, plinth. That in turn stands on a one-stage octagonal base. Slate panels are set in to the plinth. One is inscribed TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR GOD AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. Two other panels record the names of the fallen, while a fourth in the same style records the names of those who fell in the Second World War.

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, 4 October 2017.

Sources

Websites
Hartwell village website, accessed 15 October 2015 from http://www.hartwellvillage.org.uk/groups/Hartwell-Village-General/Hartwell-War-Memorials
War Memorials Online, accessed 27 January 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/134371
War Memorials Register, accessed 4 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/15032

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Hartwell War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 20:12:16.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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.

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