Burnham-on-Crouch War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, dedicated 14 August 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Burnham-on-Crouch War Memorial, which is situated on a raised platform between the High Street and the River Crouch, 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 well-executed obelisk memorial by the renowned architect R Frank Atkinson;

Group value:
* For its relationship with the Grade II-listed buildings 14 and 16 High Street and The Cabin Dairy, 15 and 17 High Street.

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 Burnham-on-Crouch 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 designed by Mr R Frank Atkinson with the bronze work undertaken by Mildmay Ironworks, Burnham-on-Crouch. It was unveiled by Mrs Leslie and dedicated by the Reverend D L Williams on the 14 August 1921; it commemorates 98 local servicemen who fell in the First World War.

Following the Second World War, a bronze plaque was added carrying the 28 names of the servicemen who died in the conflict along with an additional 10 names of civilians who were killed by enemy action.

The area surrounding the memorial was landscaped, and it was positioned at the centre of a paved platform with steps to the edges. A contemporary photograph from the memorial’s unveiling indicates that this platform has since been altered by reducing the number of steps, re-paving and the addition of stone planters.

R Frank Atkinson (1871-1923), was an architect known for his shop designs and his work includes the former Waring and Gillow’s Department Store (built 1905-6), 164-182 Oxford Street, London (Grade II-listed) and he also collaborated on the designs for Selfridges Store, London (Grade II-listed).

Details

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: stone, bronze

DESCRIPTION: Burnham-on-Crouch war memorial is located on a raised platform between the High Street and the River Crouch; it is in close proximity to the Grade II-listed buildings 14 and 16 High Street and The Cabin Dairy, 15-17 High Street.

It takes the form of a stone obelisk rising from a four-sided plinth on a two stepped base. Affixed to the upper part of the north and south faces of the obelisk are laurel wreaths cast in bronze; it has a moulded foot consisting of a cavetto with carved balls to each corner atop a narrow, square base. The plinth has a square cap and moulded foot.

The inscription is incised into the obelisk and reads TO THE/ MEMORY/ OF/ THOSE FROM/ THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR/ THEIR COUNTRY/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The 98 names are cast in bronze and are attached as plaques to two faces of the plinth.

A further bronze plaque was added to the plinth following the Second World War and reads TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING/ THE 1939 – 1945 WAR / (28 NAMES)/ KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION/ (10 NAMES).

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial stands on a three-stepped, paved platform* with raised stone planters* to the two corners facing the High Street and benches*.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 20 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22374
War Memorials Online, accessed 20 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/149104

Other
‘Burnham War Memorial Unveiled and Dedicated’, Chelmsford Chronicle, (19 August 1921), pp2

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