Petrockstowe War Memorial

The Square, Brandise Hill, Petrockstowe, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3HJ

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1921 with further names added after the Second World War.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1441005
Date first listed:
10-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:
Petrockstowe War Memorial
Statutory Address:
The Square, Brandise Hill, Petrockstowe, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3HJ
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1441005
Date first listed:
10-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:
Petrockstowe War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
The Square, Brandise Hill, Petrockstowe, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3HJ

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
The Square, Brandise Hill, Petrockstowe, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 3HJ

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

County:
Devon
District:
Torridge (District Authority)
Parish:
Petrockstow
National Grid Reference:
SS5136309152

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921 with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Petrockstowe 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: a simple yet dignified granite Latin cross;
* Group value: with Church Gate, Outbuilding and 3-6 The Square (all 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 raised at Petrockstowe in 1921 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who served during the First World War. It commemorates 61 local servicemen who served during the First World War and ten who died. The site for the memorial was gifted by Lord Clinton.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two who served and the two fallen of that conflict. 

In 2000 the inscriptions on the memorial were improved and in 2004 works to the hard landscaping were undertaken with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite.

DESCRIPTION: Petrockstowe War Memorial is located beside the entrance to the churchyard in The Square in Petrockstowe. It consists of a Latin cross rising on a tapering shaft. The shaft stands on a three-stepped square base.

Three sides of the steps carry the inscriptions and names in lead lettering. The main dedication reads IN EVER/ GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ FOLLOWING PARISHIONERS/ WHO DIED FOR US IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 and is located on the top step. On the two steps below this are a list of names followed by THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. The other faces of the steps also have lists of names preceded by THESE SERVED and THESE SUFFERED HURT. A further dedication was added for the Second World War and reads WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=152
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/78986
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/45909

Other
‘Petrockstowe’, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 20 February 1920, 11

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Petrockstowe War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 22-Jun-2026 at 22:17:39.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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.

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