Milton Abbot War Memorial

The churchyard, The Church of St Constantine, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock, PL19 0PA

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Overview

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, 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:: 1449785
Date first listed:: 19-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Milton Abbot War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, The Church of St Constantine, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock, PL19 0PA

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1449785
Date first listed:: 19-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Milton Abbot War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, The Church of St Constantine, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock, PL19 0PA

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:: The churchyard, The Church of St Constantine, Fore Street, Milton Abbot, Tavistock, PL19 0PA

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

County:: Devon
District:: West Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Milton Abbot
National Grid Reference:: SX4075979290

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Milton Abbot War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, 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 made in the conflicts of the C20. Architectural interest:

* an elegant and well-proportioned granite memorial cross incorporating a symbol of sacrifice, the reversed sword.

Group value:

* with the Parish Church of St Constantine (Grade I) and numerous Grade II-listed assets including churchyard monuments, the lych gate, and adjacent dwellings.

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 Milton Abbot as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 10 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by TC Ratcliffe and made by JT Miller of Okehampton. The memorial was unveiled on 12 June 1921 by Mr Stephen Hammock and dedicated by the Archdeacon of Plymouth. Following the Second World War, the name of one serviceman who died in that conflict was added.

Details

The war memorial stands in the north-east corner of the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Constantine (Grade I-listed), in close proximity to numerous Grade II-listed churchyard monuments and the lych gate. It comprises a tall granite cross rising from a pedestal, which stands on a three-stepped base.

The plain Latin cross, octagonal in section, is ornamented with a carved reversed sword. The moulded foot of the cross shaft rises from the corniced pedestal. The pedestal, square on plan, stands on an octagonal three-stepped base. The principal dedicatory inscription, to the front face of the pedestal, reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN PROUD MEMORY OF/ (10 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING/ AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918.

The later Second World War inscription at the foot of the pedestal reads 1939 – 1945/ (1 NAME). All the inscriptions are in applied metal lettering.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 9 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/245434/
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/45891
Other
“Milton Abbot Memorial”, Western Times, 17 June 1921, p3

Legal

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