Blackawton War Memorial

Main Street, Blackawton, Devon, TQ9 7BG

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Overview

First World War memorial cross and enclosure, unveiled 1919, 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:: 1448224
Date first listed:: 26-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Blackawton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Main Street, Blackawton, Devon, TQ9 7BG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1448224
Date first listed:: 26-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Blackawton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Main Street, Blackawton, Devon, TQ9 7BG

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:: Main Street, Blackawton, Devon, TQ9 7BG

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

County:: Devon
District:: South Hams (District Authority)
Parish:: Blackawton
National Grid Reference:: SX8057450966

Summary

First World War memorial cross and enclosure, unveiled 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Blackawton War Memorial, which stands on Main Street, 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 simple yet poignant war memorial at the heart of the village, incorporating space for the performance of acts of remembrance.

Group value: * With Churchgate House (Grade II) and the Church of St Michael (Grade I) and numerous listed churchyard monuments.

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 Blackawton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. In the Spring of 1919 the Parish Council invited suggestions for the form the memorial should take. The memorial was unveiled later that year in commemoration of 10 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War, a further four names of men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

The memorial stands in a paved area to the south side of Main Street, to the east of Churchgate House (Grade II) and the Church of St Michael (Grade I) and numerous listed churchyard monuments. It takes the form of a small Latin cross in granite, raised on a small pedestal. The pedestal stands on a broad granite plinth. The plinth stands on a large block of coursed rubble walling with a chamfered top.

The Second World War dedication to the front face of the pedestal reads: 1939 – 1934/ (4 NAMES), whilst the First World War dedication on the plinth below reads: IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN, 1914 - 1919/ (10 NAMES). All the texts are in applied metal letters.

The paved area is enclosed by a low stone wall, with an opening flanked by low piers to the front, facing onto the street

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 1 September 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/203417
War Memorials Register, accessed 1 September 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10198
Other
“Blackawton Church Affairs”, Western Morning News, 4 July 1923, p3
“Blackawton”, Western Times, 15 April 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.

The listed building is shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.