Limpley Stoke War Memorial

Outside 32 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled 5 March 1921, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452132
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Limpley Stoke War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Outside 32 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452132
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Limpley Stoke War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Outside 32 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire

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 32 Middle Stoke, Limpley Stoke, Wiltshire

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Limpley Stoke
National Grid Reference:: ST7808560688

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 5 March 1921, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Limpley Stoke War Memorial, which is situated on the western side of Middle Stoke road opposite No 32 Middle Stoke, 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 monolith memorial.

Group value:

* with 28, 33 and 36 Middle Stoke (all Grade II-listed).

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 Limpley Stoke 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 was unveiled on Saturday 5 March 1921 by Brigadier-General G Palmer MP and commemorates the nine men who died in the conflict as well as the 54 men who returned. The land for the memorial was donated by Limpley Stoke Manor.

A second plaque was subsequently added to the memorial in dedication to the parishioner who fell during the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Limpley Stoke War Memorial stands in the centre of the village on the western side of Middle Stoke road opposite 32 Middle Stoke; it is close to 28, 33 and 36 Middle Stoke (all Grade II-listed).

It takes the form of a rough rectangular stone, set upright on its short edge, with two brass plaques attached to its eastern face. The larger plaque has a curved top and is set into a fielded panel on the memorial. It features a laurel wreath in relief around the words ROLL/ OF/ HONOUR, above a scroll containing the words LIMPLEY STOKE. Beneath this is the dedication, THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR OF 1914–18/ (9 NAMES)/ THESE GAVE THEIR SERVICE/ (54 NAMES).

A second rectangular plaque has been added beneath the first with the inscription, ALSO/ IN MEMORY OF/ (NAME)/ 1939 – 45.

The memorial rises from a narrow plinth of rough-dressed stone set in three courses. The whole stands on a platform of rubble-coursed stone with a short flight of steps leading from the road to the memorial. At the north-west and south-east corners of the platform are short, square pillars of similar construction.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 01 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/241558/
War Memorials Register, accessed 01 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/24301
Other
‘Limpley Stoke War Memorial’, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, (5 March 1921), pp27
'The March of Time', The Wiltshire Times, (9 March 1946), pp2

Legal

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