Membury War Memorial

Outside St John the Baptist Church, Membury, Devon, EX13 7AF

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Overview

First World War memorial, designed by W.D Caröe, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438719
Date first listed:: 17-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Membury War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Outside St John the Baptist Church, Membury, Devon, EX13 7AF

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438719
Date first listed:: 17-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Membury War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Outside St John the Baptist Church, Membury, Devon, EX13 7AF

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Outside St John the Baptist Church, Membury, Devon, EX13 7AF

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Devon
District:: East Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Membury
National Grid Reference:: ST2765202928

Summary

First World War memorial, designed by W.D Caröe, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Membury 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; * Architectural interest: a simple yet striking Latin cross; * Designer: by the ecclesiastical architect W.D Caröe; * Group value: with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade I).

History

The topic of a war memorial at Membury was first discussed at a meeting held in March 1919. At this time three schemes were considered: a memorial cross, memorial bells and a clubroom. At the meeting it was determined that the schemes to provide a memorial cross and an extension to the existing clubroom would be pursued with a public subscription allowing contributors to assign their gift to one or other project.

The memorial was designed by ecclesiastical architect W.D Caröe (1857-1938). Caröe had previously undertaken some work for Membury church and so the vicar, Rev Langdon recommended him to the committee to design the war memorial.

Caröe had been appointed as an architect to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, becoming Senior Architect in 1895. A member of the Art Workers’ Guild, he ran a very successful London practice, winning both ecclesiastical and secular commissions. In addition to architectural work, he also designed a number of important church monuments, including those to Archbishop Temple in Canterbury Cathedral, Bishop Owen in St David’s Cathedral, Bishop Ridding in Southwell Cathedral, and Bishop Satterlee and Bishop Harding in Washington Cathedral, USA.

The memorial was built by Ham Hill and Doulting Stone Co Ltd of Norton-sub-Hamdon, Somerset and erected by local masons R Woolcott and J Denlow. The Blue Lias stone which forms the foundation was a local stone quarried from the now-closed Tolcis quarry close to Membury and it was gifted by Mr T Swain and the materials were hauled by parishioners free of charge.

The dedication of the memorial took place in March 1920 by Rev F Langdon.

In 2010 the memorial was repaired and conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

MATERIALS: Doulting Stone cross, Blue Lias foundations, limestone retaining wall and plaque, bronze plaque.

DESCRIPTION: Membury War Memorial consists of a Latin cross standing over 5m tall. The arms of the cross are octagonal in profile and rise from a tapered octagonal shaft. The shaft is set upon an octagonal plinth with rounded corners which is set upon a square two-stepped base.

To the front of the war memorial is a limestone retaining wall which holds a stone dedication tablet which bears the inscription in incised, ornate lettering and reads IN MEMORY OF/ THE SACRIFICES MADE/ DURING THE GREAT WAR/ AUGUST 1914 NOVEMBER 1918/ BY THIS SIGN THOU SHALT/ CONQUER.

A bronze plaque on the memorial is dedicated to those who fell in the Second World War which reads 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 July 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/98795
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 July 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25353
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 July 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=788
Other
Membury, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 19 March 1920

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.