Axmouth War Memorial Cross

St Michael's churchyard, Church Lane, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AF

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1443109
Date first listed:: 23-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Axmouth War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: St Michael's churchyard, Church Lane, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AF

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1443109
Date first listed:: 23-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:: Axmouth War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: St Michael's churchyard, Church Lane, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AF

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:: St Michael's churchyard, Church Lane, Axmouth, Devon, EX12 4AF

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

County:: Devon
District:: East Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Axmouth
National Grid Reference:: SY2563091054

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Axmouth War Memorial Cross, which stands in St Michael's churchyard, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a tall and intricately ornamented wheel-head cross in the Celtic style; * Group value: with the Church of St Michael (Grade I) and other Grade II-listed buildings in close proximity.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Axmouth as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

At a meeting held in April 1919 the villagers decided to raise a memorial cross in the churchyard and a tablet in the church. The War Memorial Committee hoped to raise £300 to cover the costs. The cross had been erected by March 1920. It was made by Messrs H Hems and Sons of Exeter and was unveiled by Major Morrison Bell MP, with an address by Prebendary HC Gaye, in commemoration of 22 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of two men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

The memorial cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Michael (Grade I-listed). In Cornish granite, it takes the form of a c5m tall wheel-head cross. The cross head and the cross shaft are ornamented with intricate interlace patterns carved in low relief. The cross shaft stands on a three-stepped, octagonal, base. The inscriptions, in applied metal letters, are recorded on the middle step of the base.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”. The commemorated names are listed on other faces of the middle step with, to the rear, the two Second World War names.

Sources

Websites
Devon Heritage, War Memorials, accessed 04/01/2017 from http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Axmouth/AxmouthWarMemorials.htm
War Memorials Online, accessed 04/01/2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/98963/
War Memorials Register, accessed 04/01/2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25185
Other
“Axmouth’s War Memorial”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 10 April 1920, p5
“Axmouth’s War Memorial”, The Western Times, 11 April 1919, p10
“Axmouth”, The Western Times, 20 June 1919, p8

Legal

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