Hatherleigh War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Hatherleigh War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, 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 imposing granite memorial wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade I), churchyard monuments listed at Grade II, and numerous Grade II-listed buildings on Market Place.

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 Hatherleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 27 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The cross was designed by local architect, Mr S Hooper, and was unveiled in 1921 by Major Arnold. Following the Second World War the names of seven local servicemen who died in that conflict were added to the memorial. The memorial was restored in 2011.

Details

The tall granite memorial stands in the churchyard, to the south of the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade I) and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings and churchyard monuments. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross standing on a large plinth, square on plan. The plinth is raised on a three-stepped base, standing on a large concrete foundation.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE/ HONOURED MEMORY OF THE/ BRAVE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/ THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. The commemorated First World War names are listed to either side of the plinth.

The later Second World War dedication is inscribed on the front face of the upper step of the base, reading TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945, with the seven names recorded below on the middle step.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 16 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/26020
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/98148/
Devon Heritage, Hatherleigh War Memorial, accessed 16 November 2017 from http://www.devonheritage.org/Places/Hatherleigh/HatherleighWarMemorial1939to1945.htm

Other
‘Hatherleight Memorial’, Western Times, 8 July 1921, p3
‘Hatherleigh’s Loss’, Western Times, 18 August 1922, p10

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