Desford War Memorial

Junction of Main Street with Church Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9GD

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Overview

First World War memorial with Second World War addition. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454788
Date first listed:: 22-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Desford War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Junction of Main Street with Church Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9GD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454788
Date first listed:: 22-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Desford War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Junction of Main Street with Church Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9GD

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 Main Street with Church Lane, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9GD

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

County:: Leicestershire
District:: Hinckley and Bosworth (District Authority)
Parish:: Desford
National Grid Reference:: SK4780403464

Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War addition.

Reasons for Designation

Desford War Memorial, which is situated at the junction of Main Street with Church Lane, 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:

* a well-executed Latin cross memorial with a Sword of Sacrifice to the front face.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Martin (Grade II*-listed).

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 Desford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 15 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was probably erected not long after the end of the conflict, and was in situ by the time the Ordnance Survey County Series 25in map was published in 1930.

Following the Second World War, a wedge-shaped tablet was added to the base of the memorial recording the names of the nine servicemen who died in the conflict.

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War addition.

DESCRIPTION: Desford War Memorial is located on a roadside corner at the junction of Main Street with Church Lane. It is in close proximity to the Church of St Martin (Grade II*-listed).

The memorial is of rough-hewn, grey granite and takes the form of a tall Latin cross, with an inverted metal sword attached to the south face. The cross shaft terminates in a tapering foot and rises from a four-sided tapering plinth, which in turn surmounts a two-stepped base.

The principal inscription and First World War names are to the south face of the plinth within a smooth, recessed panel. The inscription includes the phrase THEY DIED THAT/ WE MIGHT LIVE written between the dates 1914 and 1919. Recorded below are the 15 names of those who died.

Positioned on the bottom step of the base, against the south face of the upper step, is a later wedge-shaped granite tablet with the Second World War dedication, 1939 – 1945/ (9 NAMES).

All lettering is incised, painted black.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial stands on a small, semi-circular platform of regular-coursed stone with rough-hewn stone kerbs. It is enclosed to the rear by decorative metal railings, painted black, with gold painted urn finials.

Sources

Websites
Leicestershire County Council War Memorials Project, accessed 15 February 2018 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/348
War Memorials Register, accessed 15 February 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37513
Other
OS Map 25” (1930 edn)

Legal

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