Morchard Bishop War Memorial

The Green, Village Cross, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6PG

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920, 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:: 1449790
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Morchard Bishop War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Green, Village Cross, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6PG

User submitted image — Uploaded by War Memorials Online This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Almost 350,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions.

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

🏠 Buildings
🏰 Scheduled monuments
🌳 Parks and gardens
⚔️ Battlefields
⚓ Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Historic England Archive

Search over 1 million photographs and drawings from the 1850s to the present day using our images archive.

Find Photos

Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1449790
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Morchard Bishop War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The Green, Village Cross, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6PG

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 Green, Village Cross, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6PG

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

County:: Devon
District:: Mid Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Morchard Bishop
National Grid Reference:: SS7697107553

Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Morchard Bishop War Memorial, which stands on The Green, 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:

* A tall an imposing memorial cross in granite standing in a prominent position on The Green.

Group value:

* With numerous Grade II-listed buildings around The Green.

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 Morchard Bishop as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 23 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The cross was provided and erected by W Osborne of Okehampton. Nearing completion in May 1920, the memorial was unveiled on 11 July by the Earl of Portsmouth at a well-attended ecumenical service. It was dedicated by the Rector, Reverend HS Watkins. Following the Second World War further names were added to commemorate those who died in that conflict. The memorial was refurbished in 2014.

Details

MATERIALS: granite cross, base and pedestal with stone kerbing, metal posts and chains.

DESCRIPTION: the c5m tall Dartmoor granite memorial stands on The Green, in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings. It takes the form of a plain Latin cross, rising from a small pedestal that stands on a broad three-stepped base.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE/ UNDYING MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ LEST WE FORGET with below, on the upper step, ALSO OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE WAR 1939 – 1945. The commemorated names are listed on the pedestal and upper step.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial cross stands in a square enclosure demarcated by stone kerbing, and with eight metal posts. The posts have finials and carry double chains around the enclosure.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 22 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/251335
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25327
Other
“Devon’s War Heroes”, Western Times, 12 July 1920, p3
“Morchard Bishop”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 21 May 1920, p10
“Morchard’s Honoured Dead”, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette, 16 July 1920, p12

Legal

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