Fordham war memorial

Moat Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex, CO6 3LU

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, built in 1919; 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:: 1452952
Date first listed:: 31-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Fordham war memorial
Statutory Address:: Moat Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex, CO6 3LU

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452952
Date first listed:: 31-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Fordham war memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Moat Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex, CO6 3LU

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:: Moat Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex, CO6 3LU

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

County:: Essex
District:: Colchester (District Authority)
Parish:: Fordham
National Grid Reference:: TL9287028651

Summary

A First World War memorial, built in 1919; with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Fordham 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest: * For its design, a well-executed stone memorial.

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 750,000 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 Fordham, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was set up at a prominent road junction at the heart of the village. It commemorates the 18 local servicemen who fell in the First World War, and was unveiled on 12 October 1919 by Brigadier General F W Towsey. It was sculpted by Messrs L J Watts Ltd, and constructed by local man F W Clampin on land donated by George Playle.

The names of four local servicemen who fell in the Second World War were added following this conflict.

The memorial was originally in the form of a clock tower. However, the clock was subsequently replaced with a stone panel with a carved cross at its centre. In 2017, a plaque was added to the plinth with the names of the lost servicemen who had not previously been recognised on the memorial.

Details

MATERIALS: limestone, on a brick plinth.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is a classical composition. The painted brick plinth rises just above the height of the flanking wall of brick and flint, and tapers at the top to meet the middle section, which has corner pilasters with moulded feet and capitals, with a plain, inscribed panel between. This is topped by a cornice on which stands the uppermost element, a smaller version of the lower section with similar but shorter and narrower pilasters, and a triangular pediment topped with a carved dove finial. The front face houses a stone plaque with a relief carved, plain Latin cross, replacing the original clock.

INSCRIPTION: the middle section carries the inscription: IN GRATEFUL / AND HONOURED MEMORY OF / THE FORDHAM MEN, / WHO FELL IN THE WAR, 1914 – 1919. / (NAMES) / 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums War Memorials Register, accessed 4 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22366
Information on the memorial from Fordham History Society, accessed 4 December 2017 from http://www.fordhamhistorysociety.co.uk/#/war-memorial/4588285469
War Memorials Online, accessed 4 December 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/205599/

Legal

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