Commemorative flagpole base in the grounds of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School
Somerset Skills & Learning Centre, The Old School House, 47 Ditton Street, Ilminster, TA19 0BW
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436047
- Date first listed:
- 08-Jul-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Commemorative flagpole base in the grounds of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School
- Statutory Address:
- Somerset Skills & Learning Centre, The Old School House, 47 Ditton Street, Ilminster, TA19 0BW
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436047
- Date first listed:
- 08-Jul-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Commemorative flagpole base in the grounds of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School
- Statutory Address 1:
- Somerset Skills & Learning Centre, The Old School House, 47 Ditton Street, Ilminster, TA19 0BW
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
- Statutory Address:
- Somerset Skills & Learning Centre, The Old School House, 47 Ditton Street, Ilminster, TA19 0BW
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Ilminster
- National Grid Reference:
- ST3608114267
Summary
A decorative flagpole base erected to commemorate the boys of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School who fell during the First World War and their headmaster who died afterwards in 1920.
Reasons for Designation
The flagpole base erected to commemorate the boys of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School who fell during the First World War, and their headmaster who died afterwards in 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: a poignant example of a war memorial in the relatively unusual form of a flagpole base displaying Classical style detailing;
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community;
* Degree of survival: though the loss of its flagpole is regrettable, the decorative base has survived and a suitable flagpole could be re-instated if appropriate;
* Group value: it forms an interesting group with the adjacent Grade II listed
History
The flagpole base in the grounds of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School on Ditton Street, Ilminster was erected in c1920 in commemoration of the boys of the school who lost their lives whilst serving their country in the First World War, and of their headmaster Thomas Bird Edmonds who died on 15 February 1920. Ilminster Junior Boys' School opened in 1900 and closed in 1970, and the buildings now house the Somerset Skills & Learning Centre.
Details
A decorative flagpole base erected to commemorate the boys of the former Ilminster Junior Boys' School who fell during the First World War and their headmaster who died afterwards in 1920.
The Classical style flagpole base (its timber flagpole now missing), constructed in Ilminster stone, a form of reconstituted limestone, consists of a large, cube shaped holder with large decorative volutes to either side, set on a deep plinth on a flat stone base. A bronze plaque attached to its west face reads: 'ERECTED IN MEMORY OF - THE OLD BOYS OF THIS SCHOOL - WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR - ALSO OF - THOMAS BIRD EDMONDS - THEIR BELOVED HEADMASTER - WHO DIED FEB 15th 1920'
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 15 December 2016.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register (please note that it refers to Swanmead Community School), accessed 17/05/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/65595
War Memorials Online, accessed 15/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/144327
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 02-Jul-2026 at 16:17:08.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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