Shenley War Memorial

c50m south-east of St Mary's Church, Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6AB

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled 1918, with later additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457932
Date first listed:: 08-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Shenley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: c50m south-east of St Mary's Church, Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6AB

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457932
Date first listed:: 08-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Shenley War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: c50m south-east of St Mary's Church, Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6AB

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:: c50m south-east of St Mary's Church, Shenley Road, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6AB

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

District:: Milton Keynes (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Shenley Church End
National Grid Reference:: SP8323336666

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1918, with later additions.

Reasons for Designation

Shenley War Memorial, which stands on Shenley 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 and conflicts thereafter.

Architectural interest:

* a striking war memorial in York stone, in the Classical style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and Grade II-listed buildings including Eagles Wings, Manor Farmhouse, and The Dower House.

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 Shenley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by four members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was commissioned by Mrs Ada Mary Selby-Lowndes of Whaddon Hall, who unveiled it on 3 August 1918. It was made by William G Wise of Winslow. In addition to those who died, it marks the service of the men who returned from the conflict. The names are slightly out of alphabetical order, because the memorial was erected before the end of the war.

Details

The memorial stands on Shenley Road, close to the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed) and Grade II-listed buildings including Eagles Wings and Manor Farmhouse. It comprises a York stone tapered pillar with an elaborately decorated entablature supporting a low pyramidal cap. The pillar stands on a two-stepped stone base, raised on a concrete platform.

The inscription to the front face of the pillar reads SHENLEY/ ROLL OF HONOUR/ 1914 – 1919 (46 NAMES). The list of names includes all who served: those who died are indicated with an incised cross. The dedication to the rear face reads IN THE MEMORY OF/ ALL/ WHO DIED IN THE/ SERVICE/ OF THEIR COUNTRY/ 1945 - PRESENT.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 29 April 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/231371/
War Memorials Register, accessed 29 April 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/8229

Legal

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