Great Livermere War Memorial

Junction of Church Road and The Street, Great Livermere, Suffolk, IP31 1JT

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled on 24 April 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454156
Date first listed:: 07-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Great Livermere War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Junction of Church Road and The Street, Great Livermere, Suffolk, IP31 1JT

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454156
Date first listed:: 07-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Great Livermere War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Junction of Church Road and The Street, Great Livermere, Suffolk, IP31 1JT

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:: Junction of Church Road and The Street, Great Livermere, Suffolk, IP31 1JT

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: West Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Great Livermere
National Grid Reference:: TL8869771239

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 24 April 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Great Livermere War Memorial, which is situated at the junction of The Street and Church Road, 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 Latin cross memorial with a substantial plinth, demonstrating fine craftsmanship in the carved motifs to the east and west faces.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed buildings, the Post Office and 27 and 28 The Street.

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 Livermere 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 unveiled and dedicated on 24 April 1920 by Mrs J A H Wood on behalf of her mother, Lady de Saumarez. It was designed by F E Hawkins and erected by Mr F H Goddard of Bury St Edmunds, who also built a number of other war memorials in the St Edmundsbury area. The memorial commemorates the 12 local servicemen who died in the First World War as well as the 51 men from the community who served and returned.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: Portland stone, marble cross and plaque.

DESCRIPTION: Great Livermere War Memorial is located on a traffic island at the junction of The Street and Church Road, close to the Grade II-listed buildings, the Post Office and 27 and 28 The Street.

It takes the form of a small, marble Latin cross atop a tall, four-sided plinth of Portland stone surmounting a two-stepped square base. All incised lettering is painted black.

To the centre of the cross on the south face is the monogram IHS, carved in relief with the letters superimposed over each other. To the opposite (north) face of the cross is a crown carved in relief. The cross rises from a narrow, square pedestal which is incised with the phrase THANKS BE TO (west face)/ GOD WHO GIVETH (south face)/ US THE VICTORY (east face). Incised to the north face are the words WAR DECLARED – 1ST AUG. 1914/ ARMISTICE SIGNED 11TH NOV. 1918.

The plinth has a cushion capital with a narrow cornice and terminates in a moulded foot. A narrow band is carved around the upper section of the plinth and carries the following inscription on inset panels in relief carved letters THINE IS THE KINGDOM (west face)/ THE POWER AND THE GLORY (south face)/ FOR EVER AND EVER (east face). Incised to the north face of the band are the words BLESSED ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE/ THE LORD FOR THEIR GOD.

Affixed to the south face of the plinth, and standing on a moulded stone ledge, is a marble plaque with curved top carrying the inscription IN/ LOVING AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF/ (12 NAMES)/ WHO DIED/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR. A further inscription is incised directly into the north face of the plinth and reads THIS/ MONUMENT/ WAS ERECTED BY SUBSCRIPTION/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND AS/ A MEMORIAL OF THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 TO 1919./ ALSO TO KEEP IN MEMORY/ THE MEN OF LIVERMERE/ WHO FELL IN THAT WAR,/ AND TO/ GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE/ PATRIOTISM OF THE/ OTHER FIFTY-ONE LOCAL MEN/ WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN/ ITS TIME OF PERIL. Carved in relief to the east face of the plinth is a crossed swords and lances motif, with a blank pennant curving between them at the top, the royal monogram 'GR' overlaid in the middle, and a soldier’s cap below. To the opposite (west) face of the plinth is a crossed rifles motif with a laurel wreath all carved in relief.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/117463/
War Memorials Register, accessed 19 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5238
Other
‘Another Local War Memorial. Unveiling Ceremony at Livermere.’, Bury Free Press, (1 May 1920), 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.