Souldrop War Memorial
All Saints Churchyard, Sharnbrook Road, Souldrop, Bedford, MK44 1EX
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440880
- Date first listed:
- 07-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Souldrop War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- All Saints Churchyard, Sharnbrook Road, Souldrop, Bedford, MK44 1EX
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1440880
- Date first listed:
- 07-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Souldrop War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- All Saints Churchyard, Sharnbrook Road, Souldrop, Bedford, MK44 1EX
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:
- All Saints Churchyard, Sharnbrook Road, Souldrop, Bedford, MK44 1EX
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Bedford (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Knotting and Souldrop
- National Grid Reference:
- SP9854861564
Summary
First World War memorial unveiled on 11 September 1921 with one further name added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Souldrop 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 this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking Latin cross with fine lettering;
* Group value: with the Church of All Saints (Grade II*) and Orchard Cottage, a listed building opposite (Grade II).
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 unveiled at Souldrop by Sir Albert Edward Bowen on 11 September 1921 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates nine local servicemen who died during the First World War.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the one fallen of that conflict.
Details
MATERIALS: Weldon stone and Clipstone.
DESCRIPTION: Souldrop War Memorial is located on the east side of the churchyard of All Saints Church. It consists of a Latin cross with a carved collar set upon a tapering octagonal shaft. The shaft rises from a chamfered plinth with an octagonal top and square base. The whole is set upon a single square stepped base.
The plinth carries the dedication to the fallen of the First World War in raised lettering and reads: IN MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN/ WHO FROM THIS VILLAGE FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 18. Two of the other faces are incised with the names of the fallen. The final side has 1939 – 45 inscribed in raised lettering with one name beneath it.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/120753
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1782
Other
‘Souldrop War Memorial’, Bedfordshire Times and Independent, 16 September 1921
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 05-Jun-2026 at 19:44:00.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.