Beck Row War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial obelisk, unveiled 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Beck Row War Memorial, which stands at the junction of The Street and Lamble Close, 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 yet poignant war memorial obelisk.

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 Beck Row, outside the Methodist Chapel, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the parishes of Beck Row, Holywell Row and Wilde Street who lost their lives in the First World War. Constructed by HG Neville and Son, of Mildenhall, it was unveiled on Sunday 6 July 1919 by Mr Arthur Mothersole MM. Twenty-four First World War names are now recorded on the memorial. Following the Second World War the details of eight servicemen, and one female civilian, who died during that conflict were added to the memorial.

In 1995 the memorial was relocated approximately 220m to the south, to its present location. In 2001, granite plaques were added to the memorial, covering the original inscriptions.

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 tall Portland stone memorial stands on a small grassed area at the junction of The Street and Lamble Close. It comprises a tall obelisk on a low plinth, square on plan, with a three-stage base.

The main inscription on the south-west face of the plinth, recorded on a granite plaque set into the Portland stone, reads FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS/ ERECTED IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF BECK ROW/ HOLYWELL ROW/ AND WILDE STREET/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1919/ AND/ WORLD WAR II 1939 - 1945/ THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ THEIR SPIRITS TO GOD.

Commemorated First World War names are listed on granite plaques let into the plinth sides and into the upper stage of the base. The Second World War names are listed on a similar plaque on the base, whilst the name of the civilian, Martha Brightwell, is incised into the middle stage of the base.

The memorial is enclosed within a small square area, marked by paving and gravel, with four corner posts carrying a chain.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4568
War Memorials Online, accessed 8 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138318/

Other
‘Beck Row memorial unveiled’, Bury Free Press, 12 July 1919

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