Axford War Memorial

Outside the Entrance to St Michael's Churchyard, Marlborough Road, Axford, Wiltshire, SN8 2EX

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Overview

First World War memorial with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1451477
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Axford War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Outside the Entrance to St Michael's Churchyard, Marlborough Road, Axford, Wiltshire, SN8 2EX

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1451477
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Axford War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Outside the Entrance to St Michael's Churchyard, Marlborough Road, Axford, Wiltshire, SN8 2EX

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:: Outside the Entrance to St Michael's Churchyard, Marlborough Road, Axford, Wiltshire, SN8 2EX

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Ramsbury
National Grid Reference:: SU2335669992

Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Axford War Memorial, which is situated at the roadside at the main entrance to St Michael’s 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Latin cross memorial with a fine relief carving of a Sword of Sacrifice.

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 erected at Axford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.

The name of the single member of the community who died in the Second World War was subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Axford War Memorial is located at the roadside on a raised bank at the main entrance to St Michael’s churchyard.

It is of rough-hewn granite and takes the form of a Latin cross with an inverted Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief to the south face. The cross rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth which carries the inscription and names in leaded lettering on smooth, inset panels. The plinth surmounts a two-stepped base on top of a square brick platform, which is built into the slope of the roadside.

The main inscription is to the front (south face) of the plinth and reads, - AXFORD-/ IN REMEMBRANCE/ 1914-18/ TO THEM/ ALL HONOUR AND PEACE.

The names of the fallen are recorded in two groups on the sides of the plinth, six names on the east face and seven names on the west face.

A further inscription is to the rear (north face) of the plinth and reads, 1939-45/ (NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 10 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/197391
War Memorials Register, accessed 10 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23920

Legal

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