Barrow War Memorial

Barrow Green, The Street, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5AA

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Overview

First World War memorial obelisk, 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:: 1452044
Date first listed:: 30-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Barrow War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Barrow Green, The Street, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5AA

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452044
Date first listed:: 30-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Barrow War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Barrow Green, The Street, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5AA

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:: Barrow Green, The Street, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP29 5AA

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: West Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Barrow
National Grid Reference:: TL7647263485

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Barrow War Memorial, which stands on Barrow 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* an elegant war memorial obelisk, in the Classical style.

Group value:

* with Green Farmhouse and other Grade II-listed buildings around Barrow 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 Barrow as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 33 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The type of memorial and its location had been a source of considerable controversy, with the Rector favouring the erection of a stone tablet in the church, but parishioners voted overwhelmingly in favour of an obelisk on the village green.

The memorial was constructed in 1919 by HG Neville and Son of Mildenhall and was unveiled by Captain Owen A Clark on Sunday 28 November 1920. The names of 11 parishioners who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Local building firm HG Neville and Son were involved with the erection of a number of war memorials in Suffolk, including that at Freckenham (Grade II).

Details

The Portland stone memorial stands on Barrow Green in a prominent location at the junction of The Street, Bury Road, and Barrow Hill, opposite Green Farmhouse (Grade II) and in close proximity to other Grade II-listed buildings. It comprises a slender obelisk standing on a pedimented pedestal, square on plan, raised on a three-stepped base.

The main inscription in incised and painted lettering on the front face of the plinth reads THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED/ BY PARISHIONERS OF BARROW/ AND FRIENDS/ IN GRATEFUL AND/ LOVING MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918.

A further incised and painted inscription has been added to the upper step of the base, reading to the front AND OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE 1939–1945 WAR and to the rear, THEIR NAMES SHALL LIVE FOR EVER. The commemorated names are recorded on the sides of the plinth and the base.

The memorial is surrounded by a kerbed enclosure with eight posts and carrying a spiked metal chain.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 8 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/117611
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5088
Other
‘Barrow War Memorial. A Deferred Dedication Ceremony’, The Bury Free Press, Saturday 4 December 1920.

Legal

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