Ashdon War Memorial

Village Green, Church Hill, Ashdon, Essex, CB10 2HT

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial unveiled on 23 October 1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1441011
Date first listed:: 06-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Ashdon War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Village Green, Church Hill, Ashdon, Essex, CB10 2HT

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1441011
Date first listed:: 06-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Ashdon War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Village Green, Church Hill, Ashdon, Essex, CB10 2HT

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:: Village Green, Church Hill, Ashdon, Essex, CB10 2HT

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

County:: Essex
District:: Uttlesford (District Authority)
Parish:: Ashdon
National Grid Reference:: TL5874942206

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 23 October 1921.

Reasons for Designation

Ashdon 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 striking memorial flag base in Portland stone.

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 Ashdon as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Ashdon War Memorial was dedicated on 23 October 1921 by Maj Gen Sir S W Hare KCMG CB, Commander of the East Anglian Territorial Division. The memorial commemorates 21 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and the names of four local servicemen were added following the Second World War.

A Portland stone plaque has been added underneath to commemorate Elizabeth Everitt, a local farmer’s wife who died trying to rescue American airmen from a burning American bomber which crashed near the village in 1944.

In 2008 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust and the Wolfson Foundation.

Details

MATERIALS: Portland stone memorial, bronze plaques and concrete steps.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial in the village of Ashdon stands within a garden on the village green. It consists of a Portland stone flag base. It is set on a wide base of three shallow concrete steps. The memorial carries two bronze plaques, one on the front and one on the side, as well as an engraved quotation on the rear face.

The dedication on the bronze plaque on the front of the memorial reads TO THE MEN OF ASHDON WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ (NAMES). The engraved quotation on the rear of the memorial, comes from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress AND ALL THE TRUMPETS SOUNDED/ FOR THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE. The plaque on the side of the memorial to commemorate the fallen of the Second World War is inscribed TO THOSE WHO DIED/ IN THE/ SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

A Portland stone plaque has been added underneath to commemorate Elizabeth Everitt.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/101141
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22974
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=544

Legal

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