Danbury War Memorial

Elm Green, Elm Green Lane, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4EJ

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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:: 1459806
Date first listed:: 31-Jan-2019
List Entry Name:: Danbury War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Elm Green, Elm Green Lane, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4EJ

War Memorial on a snowy day with the green behind and the view off Danbury Ridge towards Chelmsford. — Uploaded by Peter Williams This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1459806
Date first listed:: 31-Jan-2019
List Entry Name:: Danbury War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Elm Green, Elm Green Lane, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4EJ

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:: Elm Green, Elm Green Lane, Danbury, Essex, CM3 4EJ

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

County:: Essex
District:: Chelmsford (District Authority)
Parish:: Danbury
National Grid Reference:: TL7756205374

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Danbury War Memorial, which stands on Elm Green, 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 striking Portland stone cross.

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 Danbury as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 24 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Danbury War Memorial was unveiled on 31 July 1920 by Field Marshal Sir WR Robertson. It was built to the Cross of Sacrifice design which was devised in 1919 by Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856-1942) for war cemeteries abroad, although it was also widely adopted in Britain.

Details

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

MATERIALS: Portland stone, bronze.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on Elm Green at the junction of Elm Green Lane and Bell Hill. The memorial consists of a c 7.3m high Portland stone Latin cross rising from an octagonal plinth on a four-stepped base. A bronze Sword of Sacrifice is fixed to the south face of the cross.

The south face of the plinth bears the incised inscription IN/ THANFULNESS/ TO GOD/ AND IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ DANBURY/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ MDCCCCXIV/ MDCCCCXVII. The names of the 24 First World War fallen are recorded on the north, east and west faces of the plinth. The south-west face of the plinth reads (7 NAMES)/ 1939 while the south-east face reads (7 NAMES)/ 1945.

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22235
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/101859
Other
“Danbury’s Memorial”, Chelmsford Chronicle, (6 August 1920), p5

Legal

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