Kingsthorpe War Memorial

Kingsthorpe War Memorial, Harborough Road, A508 / A5095 Cock Hotel Junction, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 7AZ

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

Overview

A First World War memorial dating from 1921, designed by Alfred Turner. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456370
Date first listed:: 18-May-2018
List Entry Name:: Kingsthorpe War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Kingsthorpe War Memorial, Harborough Road, A508 / A5095 Cock Hotel Junction, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 7AZ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456370
Date first listed:: 18-May-2018
List Entry Name:: Kingsthorpe War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Kingsthorpe War Memorial, Harborough Road, A508 / A5095 Cock Hotel Junction, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 7AZ

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:: Kingsthorpe War Memorial, Harborough Road, A508 / A5095 Cock Hotel Junction, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 7AZ

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

District:: West Northamptonshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Kingsthorpe
National Grid Reference:: SP7516262969

Summary

A First World War memorial dating from 1921, designed by Alfred Turner.

Reasons for Designation

Kingsthorpe War Memorial, designed by Alfred Turner and dating from 1921, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* the memorial is a dignified monument, with an eloquent design and good detailing.

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact on the local community of the events of the First World War; * for its association with the sculptor Alfred Turner.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest ever wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was in response to the huge impact on local communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead. This meant that the memorials provided a focus for the grief felt by local communities. One such memorial was raised at Kingsthorpe, 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 designed by the sculptor Alfred Turner, who had also designed the nearby Edgar Mobbs Memorial (Grade II*, NHLE 1447457). It was unveiled on 8 May 1921, by the Mayor, Councillor W Harvey Reeves.

Alfred Turner (1874-1940) studied sculpture at the South London Technical Art School under William Silver Frith, and at the Royal Academy. He taught sculpture at the LCC Central School of Arts and Crafts and was a member of the Royal Academy and a fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.

The statue of St George which stood atop the memorial was stolen in 1990, and in 2002 a project was undertaken to replace this. The replacement figure was produced by Olive Wootton.

Details

A First World War memorial dating from 1921, by Alfred Turner.

MATERIALS: Portland stone with resin statue.

DESCRIPTION: Kingsthorpe War Memorial stands on the main road to Market Harborough.

The memorial takes the form of a four stage, tapering stone pillar which stands atop a two-stepped base, and is surmounted by a resin figure representing St George. St George stands holding his sword so that it appears as a cross with a miniature crucifix of Christ in relief.

The inscriptions on the pillar were originally carved into the stone. These were later covered with bronze sheeting which carries the raised inscriptions. The front reads LEST/ WE FORGET/ THESE MEN/ WERE/ FAITHFUL/ UNTO DEATH. The other faces have the lists of the fallen on them. There is a later metal plaque on the front face below the dedication which commemorates the repair work and reinstatement of the statue.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums, ref 14993, accessed 7 February 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/14993
War Memorials Online, ref 108862, accessed 7 February 2018 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/108862
Other
Northampton Daily Echo, 9 May 1921

Legal

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