Great Elm 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:
- 1434788
- Date first listed:
- 19-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Great Elm War Memorial
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1434788
- Date first listed:
- 19-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Great Elm War Memorial
- Location Description:
- Circa 0.5m south of Church of St Mary Magdalene, Great Elm, 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:
- Great Elm
- National Grid Reference:
- ST7464149318
Summary
First World War memorial.
Reasons for Designation
The Great Elm War Memorial 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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: it displays good-quality craftsmanship with a well-carved wheel-cross with an intricate Celtic-knot motif;
* Group value: it forms part of a strong group with other listed structures including the Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade I), a chest tomb (Grade II) and Church Cottage (Grade II).
History
The memorial was erected to commemorate the men of the parish who died during the First World War. The dedication ceremony took place in November 1921 during which it was unveiled by the Marquis of Bath. The memorial stands within the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene (Grade I).
Details
First World War memorial.
MATERIAL: Cornish granite.
DESCRIPTION: a wheel cross on a tall shaft with an octagonal plinth and square base. The cross is decorated with Celtic-knotwork carvings. On the front of the shaft (south face) is the following dedication: 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY. OF/ THOSE OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918'. The names of the fallen servicemen can be found on the faces of the plinth.
Sources
Websites
Somerset Historic Environment Record Entry 17529: War memorial, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Great Elm, accessed 01 April 2016 from http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=17529
UK War Memorials: Great Elm War Memorial 1384, accessed 1 April 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1384
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 24-Jun-2026 at 19:31:48.
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.