Letchmore Heath War Memorial

Village Green, Aldenham Road, Letchmore Heath, Herts

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial unveiled 4 December 1920, with further names added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1434608
Date first listed:: 10-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Letchmore Heath War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Village Green, Aldenham Road, Letchmore Heath, Herts

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1434608
Date first listed:: 10-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Letchmore Heath War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Village Green, Aldenham Road, Letchmore Heath, Herts

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:: Village Green, Aldenham Road, Letchmore Heath, Herts

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

County:: Hertfordshire
District:: Hertsmere (District Authority)
Parish:: Aldenham
National Grid Reference:: TQ1524697701

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled 4 December 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Letchmore Heath War Memorial, unveiled 4 December 1920, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Design: an elegant well carved Celtic-style cross with decorative details; * Group value: with the Three Horseshoes Public House and The Old Rest, both listed at Grade II.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Letchmore Heath as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

Letchmore Heath War Memorial was unveiled 4 December 1920 by Viscount Hampden. The memorial was built by The Bromsgrove Guild on land which was owned by a Mr G Miller who was paid £15 for this. The funds to build the memorial were raised by public subscription and the names of the fallen from the Second World War were added at a later date.

In 2014 a project to repair and conserve the memorial was undertaken.

Details

MATERIALS: limestone cross.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on the village green in Letchmore Heath. It commemorates the 55 local servicemen who died in the First and Second World Wars.

The memorial consists of a Celtic cross with decorative relief knot work carvings on the cross shaft and head. The shaft of the cross also has an incised commemorative inscription which reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF ALDENHAM/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The cross rises from a square tapered plinth on a three-stepped base. Surrounding the base is a small area of paving.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 March 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/166910
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 March 2016 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/40050?utm_source=ukniwm&utm_medium=rw&utm_campaign=wmalaunch
War Memorials Trust, accessed 22 March 2016 from http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1233

Legal

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