West Overton War Memorial

The churchyard, Church of St Michael and All Angels, West Overton, Wiltshire, SN8 4ES

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:: 1451856
Date first listed:: 09-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: West Overton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, Church of St Michael and All Angels, West Overton, Wiltshire, SN8 4ES

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1451856
Date first listed:: 09-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: West Overton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, Church of St Michael and All Angels, West Overton, Wiltshire, SN8 4ES

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, Church of St Michael and All Angels, West Overton, Wiltshire, SN8 4ES

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: West Overton
National Grid Reference:: SU1339868104

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

West Overton War Memorial, which stands opposite the Church of St Michael and All Angels, 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 simple memorial cross incorporating a carved sword.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and the adjacent Verger’s Cottage and Manor House (both Grade II).

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 West Overton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 23 members of the villages of Fyfield, Lockeridge and Overton who lost their lives in the First World War. In August 1919, local residents resolved to erect a memorial cross rather than a more expensive lych gate. The cross, designed by the architect Charles Ponting (1850-1932, responsible for numerous local buildings, many of which are listed) was dedicated in January 1921. The names of five parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

The memorial stands in the churchyard, opposite the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*) and the adjacent Verger’s Cottage and Manor House (both Grade II-listed). It comprises a tall stone Latin cross standing on a substantial rectangular plinth, on a square single-stepped base. On the north-west face of the cross is a sword carved in relief.

The main inscription incised on the north-west face of the plinth, facing the church, reads IN LOVING AND GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF FYFIELD, LOCKERIDGE,/ AND OVERTON, WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ 1939-1945/ “IN SACRED SLEEP THEY REST./ SAY NOT OF BRAVE MEN THAT THEY DIE.” The First World War names are incised onto the side faces of the plinth, whilst the inscription to the rear face reads 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES). The names are all listed alphabetically, with the rank and regiment or Service of each man.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 13/02/2018

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/174036
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24248

Legal

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