Highbridge War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, erected and dedicated in 1921, in memory of the 67 men of the parish of Highbridge who died whilst serving their country. With later additions for the Second World War to commemorate the 19 fallen of that conflict.

Reasons for Designation

Highbridge War Memorial, Somerset, erected and dedicated in 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as an accomplished and well-realised stone war memorial, which takes the form of a square pedestal with bell-shaped capping, topped with a Latin cross;
* Group value: it forms an interesting group with 81 Church Street, and 82 Church Street with its adjacent stable and coach house (all Grade II-listed).

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Highbridge as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 67 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War an inscription was added to the memorial to commemorate the 19 fallen of that conflict.

Details

First World War memorial, erected and dedicated in 1921, in memory of the 67 men of the parish of Highbridge who died whilst serving their country. With later additions for the Second World War to commemorate the 19 fallen of that conflict.

MATERIALS: Stone

DESCRIPTION: The memorial comprises a tall square pedestal inscribed on one side with AD 1921 and set on a stone base. It has a decorative bell-shaped capping stone topped with a Latin cross. Marble tablets are attached to three sides of the pedestal.

A marble tablet in the upper section of the front face of the pedestal is inscribed with the principal dedicatory inscription ERECTED/ IN GRATEFUL & AFFECTIONATE MEMORY/ TO THE MEN OF HIGHBRIDGE/ WHO FELL WHILST SERVING/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS. A further tablet in the lower section of the front face of the pedestal, and one each to the left and right faces, bear the names of the fallen from the First World War. A further tablet, attached to the base of the memorial is inscribed with ALSO IN THE 1939-1945 WAR/(NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 5 Sep 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1400
Somerset Historic Environment Records ref 17688, created in 2005, accessed 10 Oct 2016 from http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/record/17688

End of official list entry

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