Northam War Memorial

Summary

A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. It was moved to its current location between 1980 and 1995.

Reasons for Designation

Northam War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* the Liberty statue is well modelled and expressive, and is the only example of its kind used as a war memorial in the county.

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 Northam as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Northam War Memorial was erected at the cost of around £800 and was unveiled on Saturday 7 August 1920. At this point only the pedestal was in place; the statue had not been completed in time for the ceremony and was added shortly afterwards. A contemporary news report notes that when completed it would ‘undoubtedly be one of the most important of its kind in the district.’ Unusually the statue depicts the personification of Liberty; it is identified in Dr Todd Gray's study of Devon memorials (2010) as the only example of this design in the county.

The memorial was originally set upon a raised octagonal enclosure of stone and surrounded by post and chain-link railings. The memorial was moved to its present location when the B3236 was extended through Northam between 1980 and 1995. The enclosure and railings were not retained; nor was the lower tier of the base. In its new location, the memorial is set within a square paved area with a short footpath leading from the pavement to the memorial.

Details

A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. It was moved to its current location between 1980 and 1995.

MATERIAL: ashlar stone.

DESCRIPTION: it consists of a two-tiered base topped by a square, tapering pedestal and the carved figure of Liberty holding a torch in her raised right hand. Around the top of the pedestal is a biblical quote from Samuel 1:25:16; THE MEN WERE VERY GOOD UNTO US/ THEY WERE A WALL UNTO US/ BOTH BY NIGHT AND DAY. Below, in recessed panels on all sides of the pedestal, are the names of the Fallen. At the bottom of the pedestal, on its north side, raised lettering reads NORTHAM WAR MEMORIAL/ 1914 - 1919/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. Chamfered stones added to the north side of the base contain the names of the parishioners who died in the Second World War and the dates of that conflict.


This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 27 February 2018.

Sources

Books and journals
Gray, Todd, Lest Devon Forgets, (2010), 132-133, 181

Websites
MDV106910 Northam War Memorial Devon and Dartmoor Historic Environment Record, accessed 23 January 2018 from http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=104&uid=MDV106910
Northam 2908 UK War Memorials Inventory, accessed 23 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2908
War Memorials Online, accessed 27 February 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/119703

Other
The Western Times, Tuesday 10 August 1920

End of official list entry

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