Chittlehampton War Memorial

The churchyard, St Hieritha's Church, The Square, Chittlehampton, Devon, EX37 9QW

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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:: 1443712
Date first listed:: 14-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: Chittlehampton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, St Hieritha's Church, The Square, Chittlehampton, Devon, EX37 9QW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1443712
Date first listed:: 14-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: Chittlehampton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, St Hieritha's Church, The Square, Chittlehampton, Devon, EX37 9QW

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:: The churchyard, St Hieritha's Church, The Square, Chittlehampton, Devon, EX37 9QW

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

County:: Devon
District:: North Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Chittlehampton
National Grid Reference:: SS6359225555

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Chittlehampton War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of St Hieritha’s Church, 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: an elegant memorial cross with carved interlace patterns in the Celtic style; * Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Hieritha and a number of Grade II-listed churchyard structures including the scheduled churchyard cross.

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 unveiled at Chittlehampton on 27 August 1920 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.

The unveiling was undertaken by Major General Sir Godfrey Williams and the memorial, which was the work of Messrs Harry Hems and Sons of Exeter, was dedicated by Reverend CW Bate. The memorial commemorates 20 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the four fallen of that conflict.

Details

MATERIALS: Granite memorial cross.

DESCRIPTION: Chittlehampton War Memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Hieritha (Grade I-listed), in close proximity to the Lych Gate and a number of churchyard monuments (all Grade II-listed) and a listed and scheduled churchyard cross.

The war memorial consists of a tall granite wheel-head cross on a slender tapering shaft. The cross head is decorated with interlace patterns carved in low relief. The cross rises from a three-stepped octagonal base.

The inscriptions on the memorial are in raised lettering, located on the three steps of the base. The principal dedication to the front face of the middle step reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND/ IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THOSE FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919. On the step below this is + LEST WE FORGET +. The First World War names are listed on faces of the middle step, whilst the later Second World War dedication and names are recorded on the top step.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 29 November 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/142452
War Memorials Register, accessed 29 November 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25288
Other
“Chittlehampton War Memorial”’, North Devon Journal, 2 September 1920, p3.
“Chittlehampton: War Memorial”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 3 September 1920, p7.
“Chittlehampton”, North Devon Journal, 12 June 1919, p2.
“Chittlehampton”, North Devon Journal, 21 August 1919, p6.

Legal

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