Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes Memorial

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Overview

A memorial bench to Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes, unveiled in 1922. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1448439
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes Memorial

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1448439
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes Memorial
Location Description:: Stone memorial bench on the corner of Park Road/Truro Road, St Austell, Cornwall.

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

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

District:: Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: St. Austell
National Grid Reference:: SX0102052480

Summary

A memorial bench to Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes, unveiled in 1922.

Reasons for Designation

The Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes Memorial, unveiled in 1922, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* it is a dignified and sombre monument, of good design with good quality materials and good construction.

Historic interest:

* as a memorial to a Member of Parliament who lost his life in the First World War.

History

This memorial bench was unveiled in November 1922, to the memory of Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes, who had been killed in battle in 1915.

Thomas Agar-Robartes was the eldest son of the 6th Viscount Clifden of Lanhydrock House, Bodmin. He became a Member of Parliament in 1906 when he was elected to serve the seat of Bodmin. In 1908 he was elected for St Austell, and he held that seat until his death in 1915.

Agar-Robartes was a captain in the 1st Battallion of the Coldstream Guards, and was injured in the Battle of Loos on the 18 September, 1915. On the 30 September, he was killed while rescuing a wounded comrade. For this, he was recommended for the Victoria Cross.

The stone bench is one of a number of memorials erected in memory of Thomas Agar-Robartes. It was unveiled adjacent to the Recreation Ground in November 1922 by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall. When first erected, a horse trough stood on the paving in front of it, this was moved to a separate location in 1998. The small piece of granite within the carved wreath contains a naturally occurring white cross, which is said to bring good luck to its owners and finders.

Details

A memorial bench to Captain Thomas Agar-Robartes, unveiled in 1922.

MATERIALS AND PLAN: the bench is constructed of granite stone, and is curved on plan. It stands at the junction of Park Road and Truro Road, facing roughly north east.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a low bench which is supported on four curved stone corbels. It has a surrounding structure of ashlar granite with piers at each end showing the dates 1914 and 1919. These piers are surmounted by slightly moulded ball finials.

The wall connecting the piers has a central bronze plaque with a carved wreath above it. The plaque has an inscription which reads, "TO THE MEMORY OF/ CAPTAIN THE HON. THOMAS CHARLES/ REGINALD AGAR-ROBARTES/ COLDSTREAM GUARDS, M.P. FOR THE ST./ AUSTELL DIVISION OF CORNWALL, WHO LOST/ HIS LIFE IN FRANCE SEPT. 30TH 1915, AFTER/ RESCUING A WOUNDED COMRADE UNDER/ HEAVY FIRE, FOR WHICH GALLANT EXPLOIT/ HE WAS RECOMMENDED FOR THE VICTORIA/ CROSS. ERECTED BY MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE/ OF LORDS AND OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS".

The rear of the bench is slightly corbelled out at each end, and has a square recess at one end.

In front of the bench, the paving is laid out in three sections with a central piece of circular granite flanked by pieces laid to a diamond pattern on each side.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/97924/
Other
Western Morning News, 4th November 1922

Legal

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