Shipham War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled c1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Re-lettered in 1935 and 2002.

Reasons for Designation

Shipham 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as a well-executed memorial in the form of a wheel-head cross.

History

As part of the great wave of commemoration of the sacrifice made by the Fallen from communities across the country a war memorial was erected in the centre of Shipham to commemorate the nine local men who lost their lives during the First World War. Following the Second World War a dedicatory inscription and the names of those who died in that conflict were added.

The inscriptions on the war memorial were re-lettered in 1935 to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V, and again in 2002 during the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The war memorial was cleaned again, and the letters also re-inscribed, in 2014.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled c1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Re-lettered in 1935 and 2002.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is prominently situated in the centre of the village and is carved from stone. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross on a square-set shaft with chamfered edges and a capital with iconic decoration. There is a relief carving of a wreath to the shaft’s W face. It stands on a tall, square plinth which is surmounted on a two-stepped base. On each of the four faces of the plinth are stone tablets which carry the inscriptions. That to the W face reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF / THE SHIPHAM MEN WHO MADE / THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914-18. Below this, the upper step has the inscription ALSO IN 1939-1945 / FIVE OTHERS FROM THE PARISH / THESE WERE HONOURED IN THEIR GENERATION. The plaque on the E face of the plinth carries the following dedication GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN / THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY / DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS / THIS MEMORIAL WAS / RELETTERED BY THE / PARISHIONERS OF SHIPHAM / TO COMMEMORATE / THE SILVER JUBILEE OF / KING GEORGE V 6TH MAY 1935 / AND RELETTERED AGAIN TO / CELEBRATE THE GOLDEN JUBILEE / OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUNE 2002. The names of the Fallen are recorded on the S and N faces of the plinth and the upper step. The memorial is enclosed by arched and fleur-de-lys metal railings with posts to the corners.


This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 21 February 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorial, Shipham, ref. 17712, accessed 17 November 2016 from http://www.somersetheritage.org.uk/#
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 November 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24848
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/131295

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