Theale War Memorial
Christ Church churchyard, Theale, Sedgemoor, Somerset, BA5 1PN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437272
- Date first listed:
- 04-Oct-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Theale War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Christ Church churchyard, Theale, Sedgemoor, Somerset, BA5 1PN
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437272
- Date first listed:
- 04-Oct-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Theale War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Christ Church churchyard, Theale, Sedgemoor, Somerset, BA5 1PN
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:
- Christ Church churchyard, Theale, Sedgemoor, Somerset, BA5 1PN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Somerset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Wedmore
- National Grid Reference:
- ST4676546066
Summary
A First World War memorial of c.1920, altered by the addition of the names of the fallen of the Second World War after 1945.
Reasons for Designation
Theale 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: a well-executed stone monument, with good quality carving;
* Group value: with the Grade II listed Gothic Revival Christ Church.
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 Theale as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
After the Second World War, the names of the men of the parish who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.
Details
A First World War memorial of c.1920, altered by the addition of the names of the fallen of the Second World War after 1945.
MATERIALS
The memorial is constructed of stone.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial consists of a tall, tapering column which is surmounted by a carved stone carving in the form of scrolls sitting atop carved acanthus leaves. The column sits on a square base which bears the inscription, "IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM/ THEALE/ WHO LAID DOWN/ THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (NAMES)/ ALSO/ 1939-1945/ (NAMES).
The column and base stand on a three-stepped plinth.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 01.07.16 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24856
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 06-Jun-2026 at 14:58:36.
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.