Summary
Second World War memorial.
Reasons for Designation
Somersham War Memorial, erected in 1957, 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;
* Rarity: as a separate memorial dedicated to the fallen of the Second World War, it is relatively rare;
* Group value: it has group value with numerous listed buildings in the centre of Somersham, particularly the mid-C19 houses and shops at 93, 95 and 97 High Street to the north, the early C19 Braunston House to the south, and the K6 telephone kiosk to the west, all listed at Grade II.
History
The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Prior to then memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, which was the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, 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. In many cases the names of the fallen from the Second World War were added to these memorials but in other, relatively rare instances, a separate memorial was erected.
Details
Second World War memorial, erected in 1957.
Sources
Websites https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/142198 http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/8384
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
The listed building(s) is/are shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map: rectangular plinth and kerb) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.
End of official list entry
