Broughton Gifford War Memorial
Junction of The Street and Melksham Lane, Broughton Gifford, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8LX
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437698
- Date first listed:
- 30-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Broughton Gifford War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Junction of The Street and Melksham Lane, Broughton Gifford, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8LX
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437698
- Date first listed:
- 30-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Broughton Gifford War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Junction of The Street and Melksham Lane, Broughton Gifford, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8LX
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:
- Junction of The Street and Melksham Lane, Broughton Gifford, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 8LX
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Broughton Gifford
- National Grid Reference:
- ST8755464086
Summary
First World War memorial, designed by Messrs W Webb and Sons of Chippenham, unveiled on 22 May 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Broughton Gifford War Memorial, unveiled 22 May 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;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified obelisk memorial.
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 Broughton Gifford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The money for the memorial was raised by subscription from people in the village and it was built on common land. Designed and erected by Messrs W Webb and Sons of Chippenham, it cost £300. The memorial was unveiled on 22 May 1920 by Mrs Browne of Gifford Hall and it commemorates the 23 men who fell during the First World War and 129 men who fought and returned.
The names of six local servicemen who fell in the Second World War were added at a later date.
In 2014 the memorial was repaired and conserved with the help of grant funding from War Memorials Trust.
Details
MATERIALS: stone obelisk, iron railings.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial consists of an obelisk with a pediment set on a tapering square plinth. The whole is raised on a six-stepped base. The First World War inscriptions are rendered in attached lead letters.
The base of the obelisk bears the inscription which reads: THIS MEMORIAL / IS ERECTED BY / THE PARISH OF / BROUGHTON GIFFORD / IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / ALL THOSE MEN WHO / AT THEIR COUNTRY’S CALL / LEFT THEIR HOMES IN THE / VILLAGE TO TAKE THEIR / PART IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918.
On the pediment immediately below this is inscribed: THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES and on the other faces of the pediment is the inscription: THESE ALSO SERVED. Below these inscriptions are the lists of names on the plinth.
The top step of the base has a further inscription which reads: “YE THAT LIVE ON ‘MID’ ENGLISH PASTURES GREEN / REMEMBER US, AND THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN”.
On the step below this is a metal plaque commemorating the six servicemen who fell in the Second World War with the quote: “IN ALL THESE THINGS MORE THAN CONQUERORS / THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US" Rom.viii.35ff.
The memorial is enclosed by iron railings and furnished with an entrance gate.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12/07/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/234628
War Memorials Register, accessed 12/07/2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24264
War Memorials Trust, accessed 12 July 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1220
Other
The Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette (27 May 1920), page 7
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 10:30:33.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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