Debenham War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, High Street, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6QN

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Overview

War memorial. Erected, following the First World War, in 1920 by the architect H Smith and builder H Taylor. A further inscription was added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1459053
Date first listed:: 12-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Debenham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, High Street, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6QN

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1459053
Date first listed:: 12-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: Debenham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, High Street, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6QN

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:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, High Street, Debenham, Suffolk, IP14 6QN

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: Mid Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Debenham
National Grid Reference:: TM1741963192

Summary

War memorial. Erected, following the First World War, in 1920 by the architect H Smith and builder H Taylor. A further inscription was added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Debenham War Memorial, erected in 1920 to the design of the architect H Smith, 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.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Mary Magdalene.

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Debenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by the architect H Smith and erected by the builder H Taylor. The memorial was unveiled during a memorial service in March 1920 and was originally located at the Debenham War Memorial Institute on Gracechurch Street. It was moved to its current location in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade I) by J Wright and Son of Ipswich in 1966 when the Institute on Gracechurch Street was sold. After the Second World War, the names of those parishioners who fell during that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

War memorial. Erected, following the First World War, in 1920 by the architect H Smith and builder H Taylor. A further inscription was added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: carved from York stone.

DESCRIPTION: The memorial is situated in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene, immediately to the south-east of the church. It comprises a rectangular cenotaph or stone of remembrance over 1m high. The east face is inscribed in incised lettering: TO THE/ MEN OF DEBENHAM/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 18/ (33 NAMES)/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM. On the north face is a further inscription in incised lettering: ALSO OF THOSE/ OF THIS PARISH/ SECOND GREAT WAR/ 1939 – 45/ (SIX NAMES).

Sources

Websites
Debenham War Memorial (research by S Morley), accessed 23 August 2017 from http://www.debenhamfamilyhistory.org.uk/ui233.htm
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, accessed 23 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4737

Legal

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