Downham War Memorial

Roadside by the Church of St Margaret, Castledon Road, Downham, Essex, CM11 1LG

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

Overview

First World War memorial 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:: 1450615
Date first listed:: 06-Nov-2017
List Entry Name:: Downham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Roadside by the Church of St Margaret, Castledon Road, Downham, Essex, CM11 1LG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1450615
Date first listed:: 06-Nov-2017
List Entry Name:: Downham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Roadside by the Church of St Margaret, Castledon Road, Downham, Essex, CM11 1LG

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:: Roadside by the Church of St Margaret, Castledon Road, Downham, Essex, CM11 1LG

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

County:: Essex
District:: Chelmsford (District Authority)
Parish:: South Hanningfield
National Grid Reference:: TQ7297695284

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Downham War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: as a dignified granite wheel cross war memorial; * Group value: with the adjacent Grade II-listed Church of St Margaret.

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 in Downham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It cost approximately £150, and was unveiled on 1 May 1921 by Colonel HBH Hamilton in a ceremony attended by various local clergy and dignitaries. Further inscriptions were added at some point after the Second World War to honour the Fallen of that conflict.

Details

Granite wheel-head cross, with a sculpted sword on the front face. This stands on a granite plinth; the front face of the plinth bears the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL / IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 / (NAMES) / "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE." the rear face of the plinth reads 1939 - 1945 / (NAMES). The whole rests on a square base.

Sources

Websites
Billericay History - Downham War Memorial, accessed 13 September 2017 from http://www.billericayhistory.org.uk/page/downham_war_memorial
IWM - Downham , accessed 13 September 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/45594
WMO - Downham, Essex, accessed 13 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/164368/

Legal

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