Wenhaston War Memorial

Wenhaston Cemetery, Junction of Church Road and Hall Road, Wenhaston, Suffolk, IP19 9EW

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

Overview

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458743
Date first listed:: 12-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Wenhaston War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Wenhaston Cemetery, Junction of Church Road and Hall Road, Wenhaston, Suffolk, IP19 9EW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458743
Date first listed:: 12-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Wenhaston War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Wenhaston Cemetery, Junction of Church Road and Hall Road, Wenhaston, Suffolk, IP19 9EW

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:: Wenhaston Cemetery, Junction of Church Road and Hall Road, Wenhaston, Suffolk, IP19 9EW

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: East Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Wenhaston with Mells Hamlet
National Grid Reference:: TM4254975433

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Wenhaston War Memorial, which stands in a prominent position on the eastern boundary of Wenhaston Cemetery, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an elegant and well-executed Portland stone cross.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Peter (Grade I), 1–3 Church Cottages (Grade II) and 4 Church Cottages (Grade II).

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 Wenhaston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Arthur G Walker RA and unveiled on Sunday 14 November 1920 by Colonel G L Bence-Lambert CMG.

In 2015, 15 extra names were added to the memorial to commemorate men who died in the First World War but for various reasons were not already on the memorial. There are currently 37 names.

The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent position on the eastern boundary of the cemetery, approximately 60m south-east of the Church of St Peter (Grade I), and a short distance from 1–3 Church Cottages (Grade II) and 4 Church Cottages (Grade II).

The memorial comprises an equal-armed cross on a tapering octagonal column with an elaborately carved square plinth and three-stepped base. The memorial is carved from Portland stone and stands approximately 3.65m high.

The main inscription in incised and black-painted lettering on the east face of the plinth reads: IN/ THANKSGIVING TO GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THOSE/ GALLANT SAILORS/ AND SOLDIERS/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918. The names of those who gave their lives during the First World War are inscribed on the three other faces of the plinth.

An additional 15 names are inscribed on three sides on the foot of the plinth under the date: 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES).

Another inscription on the foot of the plinth reads: 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 1 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5591
War Memorials Online, accessed 1 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/137479

Legal

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