Semington War Memorial

St George's Churchyard, Church Street, Semington, Wiltshire, BA14 6JS

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, built before 1924; altered after the Second World War and Korean War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458408
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Semington War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St George's Churchyard, Church Street, Semington, Wiltshire, BA14 6JS

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458408
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Semington War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St George's Churchyard, Church Street, Semington, Wiltshire, BA14 6JS

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:: St George's Churchyard, Church Street, Semington, Wiltshire, BA14 6JS

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

District:: Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Semington
National Grid Reference:: ST8992960512

Summary

A First World War memorial, built before 1924; altered after the Second World War and Korean War.

Reasons for Designation

Semington War Memorial 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: * for its design, a well-executed Celtic cross.

Group value: * with the Grade II-listed Church of St George and the Grade II-listed monuments within its churchyard.

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 750,000 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 Semington, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The date that the memorial was unveiled is unknown, although it was in place by 1924. Following the Second World War and Korean War, dedications were added to commemorate the men who fell in those conflicts. The memorial was cleaned, the lettering restored and two names added to the First World War inscriptions in around 2014, and it was rededicated on August 3 2014.

Details

A First World War memorial, built before 1924; altered after the Second World War and Korean War.

MATERIALS Granite.

DESCRIPTION The memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St George (Grade II-listed). It is a simple Celtic cross with incised Celtic knotwork on the principal (east) face, on a three-step base. The top step of the east side is inscribed 1914-1918 and THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE is inscribed on the bottom step. The names of those lost in the First World War are inscribed on the middle step. The south side of the steps are inscribed 1939-1945 on the top step, with the names of those lost in that conflict on the north and south sides of the middle step. The west side is inscribed KOREA – 1951 on the top step and the name of the one man lost inscribed below.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums War Memorials Register – St George's Church - WW1, WW2 and Korean War, accessed 28/06/2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/69622
War Memorials Online Database - Memorial Cross, accessed 28/06/2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/174540/
Other
Ordnance Survey, Wiltshire (1924) (1:2500)

Legal

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