Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1919, with additions for late conflicts.
Reasons for Designation
Lapford War Memorial, which stands approximately 30m to the east of the parish church, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
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 Lapford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 25 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The granite memorial stands on the small green area to the east of the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury (Grade I-listed). It takes the form of a plain Latin cross, octagonal in section, rising from a low pedestal. The pedestal is square on plan, with rounded shoulders, and stands on a two-stepped octagonal base.
End of official list entry
