Great Barton War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 3 April 1921.

Reasons for Designation

Great Barton War Memorial, which is situated in the churchyard of the Church of the Holy Innocents, 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Greek cross memorial.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of the Holy Innocents.

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 Great Barton 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 design and location of the war memorial was the subject of considerable discussion and disagreement within the parish which was reported in local newspapers. It was eventually agreed that two memorials would be erected, a tablet inside the church and a memorial cross in the churchyard. The memorial cross was designed by Mr A Ainsworth Hunt of Hunt and Coats architectural practice, Bury St Edmunds, who also designed the Grade II-listed War Memorial at St Mary's Church, Polstead; Hunt was also one of Great Barton’s churchwardens. It was erected by Mr F H Goddard, who built a number of war memorials in the St Edmundsbury area. The memorial was unveiled on 3 April 1921 by Major H T Coppinger Hill and dedicated by the vicar, Reverend Dr Lipscomb. The costs of the memorial were met by public subscription and it commemorates the 23 members of the local community who died in the First World War.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921.

DESCRIPTION: Great Barton memorial stands in the churchyard adjacent to the main entrance gate, to the north-east of the Church of the Holy Innocents (Grade I-listed).

It is of Portland stone and takes the form of a Greek cross atop a tapering octagonal shaft with moulded foot. The shaft rises from a small octagonal pedestal atop a wide octagonal plinth. The plinth has a flat, stone cap with moulded cornice beneath and stands on a moulded foot. The whole surmounts a two-stepped, square base. All lettering is incised.

The main inscription is to the north-east face of the plinth and reads ERECTED/ TO THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The names of 22 parishioners who died in the First World War are recorded on the remaining faces of the plinth; the 23rd name is inscribed to the north-west face of the plinth foot.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 18 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5092
War Memorials Online, accessed 18 February 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/135659/

Other
‘Lively Memorial Meeting’, Bury Free Press, (24 April 1920), pp3
‘Great Barton War Memorial: An Agreement At Last’, Bury Free Press, (24 July 1920), pp3
‘Great Barton’s Tribute’, Bury Free Press, (09 April 1921), pp2

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