Akeley War Memorial

Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley

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

Overview

First World War memorial unveiled in 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1445172
Date first listed:: 05-Apr-2017
List Entry Name:: Akeley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1445172
Date first listed:: 05-Apr-2017
List Entry Name:: Akeley War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley
Statutory Address 2:: Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley, Buckingham, MK18 5HR

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:: Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the former Church of St James, Main Street, Akeley, Buckingham, MK18 5HR

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

District:: Buckinghamshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Akeley
National Grid Reference:: SP7080937770

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled in 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Akeley War Memorial, located in the churchyard of the former Church of St James (demolished), is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason: * 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: this is a good quality wheel-headed cross memorial.

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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Akeley, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled in 1920. In 2008 it was restored as the lettering had become illegible. Granite panels were attached to the sides of the plinth, faithfully reproducing the script and names of the fallen, which were incised with black lettering.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, located in the churchyard of the former Church of St James (demolished). Restored in 2008 by HW Masons and Sons of Newport Pagnall.

DESCRIPTION: a stone wheel cross, on a slim shaft rising from a moulded plinth surmounting a chamfered base. Granite tablets were placed over the original inscriptions on the plinth in 2008 replicating the original. The lettering is incised and in black.

On the N face the inscription reads: PASS NOT THIS SHRINE/ IN SORROW BUT IN PRIDE/AND MAY YOU LIVE AS/NOBLY AS THEY DIED. Nine names are listed below.

On the S face the inscription reads: IN THANKFUL REMEMBRANCE/OF THOSE FROM THIS PARISH/WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918.

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN/ HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

The E and W panels are blank.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 6 June 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/115343
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/7976

Legal

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