Thurleigh War Memorial
High Street, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, MK44 2DB
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437345
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jan-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Thurleigh War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- High Street, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, MK44 2DB
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437345
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jan-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Thurleigh War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- High Street, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, MK44 2DB
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:
- High Street, Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, MK44 2DB
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bedford (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Thurleigh
- National Grid Reference:
- TL0520958504
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled on 11 September 1921, with further names added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Thurleigh War Memorial, unveiled 11 September 1921, 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;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite wheel-head cross;
* Group value: with Novel Hotel (Grade II), Church of St Peter (Grade II*) and the scheduled monument of Bury Hill Camp, a motte and bailey castle.
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 Thurleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Thurleigh War Memorial was unveiled by Major Cumberlege and dedicated by the vicar, Rev C Hemsley, with the minister of the local Baptist Church, Rev W Lea, reading the lesson, on 11 September 1921. It commemorates 12 local servicemen who fell during the First World War.
Following the Second World War one further name was added commemorating a local serviceman who fell in that conflict.
In 2014 the memorial was cleaned and two stone vases missing from each side of the memorial were also replaced.
Details
MATERIALS: Granite wheel cross, marble shield.
DESCRIPTION: Thurleigh war memorial comprises a roughly hewn granite wheel cross, bearing a Sword of Sacrifice in relief at the centre of the wheel cross and down the shaft.
The memorial has a square plinth inscribed on the front face with black painted lead lettering with: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THURLEIGH / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR. 1914 – 1918 / (NAMES). Set at the base of the memorial is an inclined marble shield bearing the inscription: THEY DIED FOR ME, / CHRIST DIED FOR ALL. / R.I.P.
On a side face is inscribed: 1939 – 1945 / (NAME)
The memorial is set on a two-stepped base within an area of paving with a path leading up to it.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 9 June 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1183
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 June 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1828
War Memorials Online, accessed 9 June 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/190108
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 09-Jun-2026 at 16:30:22.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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