Icomb War Memorial

At the centre of Icomb village, Unnamed road, Icomb, Gloucestershire, GL54 1JE

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Overview

A First World War memorial 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:: 1461781
Date first listed:: 04-Feb-2019
List Entry Name:: Icomb War Memorial
Statutory Address:: At the centre of Icomb village, Unnamed road, Icomb, Gloucestershire, GL54 1JE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1461781
Date first listed:: 04-Feb-2019
List Entry Name:: Icomb War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: At the centre of Icomb village, Unnamed road, Icomb, Gloucestershire, GL54 1JE

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:: At the centre of Icomb village, Unnamed road, Icomb, Gloucestershire, GL54 1JE

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

County:: Gloucestershire
District:: Cotswold (District Authority)
Parish:: Icomb
National Grid Reference:: SP2128022670

Summary

A First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Icomb War Memorial, erected during the early 1920s, is listed at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made by the parish of Icomb during the global conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a modest but well carved memorial taking the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross with a tapering shaft on a two-stepped square base.

Group value:

* the memorial is situated directly adjacent to The Old Post Office, Corner Cottage and Home Farmhouse and Adjoining Stable Block (all 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 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 Icomb as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First (and later Second) World War.

The memorial is likely to have been erected at some point during the early 1920s, although the precise date is unknown. It was originally enclosed by a post and chain fence and stood on a triangular grass island at the junction of two roads at the centre of the village. By February 1930 improvements to the memorial’s setting were being discussed, with suggestions to enclose the quadrilateral piece of grass with oak posts and chains and a concrete kerb. The District and County Councils approved these proposals in April 1930. Further names were subsequently added to the memorial following the Second World War. The posts and chains surrounding the memorial have since been removed, the concrete kerbing has been replaced with stone and the area on which the memorial stands has also decreased in size.

Details

A First World War memorial, erected in the early 1920s, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: the memorial is constructed of stone with a brass plaque.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross with a tapering shaft, rising from a two-stepped, square base. There is a brass plaque bearing an inscribed dedication affixed to the front (north) face of the shaft. The plaque reads 1914-1918/ (NAMES & REGIMENTS)/ 1939-1945/ (NAMES & REGIMENTS).

The memorial is set on a raised, grassed quadrilateral plot with a planted bed and stone kerbing along its border.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum "ICOMB CROSS WW1 AND WW2", accessed 28 November 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20866
War Memorials Online "Icomb", accessed 28 November 2018 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/137932
Other
“Icomb War Memorial”, Cheltenham Chronicle, (15 February 1930), p4
“War Memorial”, Cheltenham Chronicle, (12 April 1930), p2

Legal

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