Winkleigh War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of All Saints, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8HL

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

Explore this list entry

Overview

A First World War memorial, designed by Herbert Read. Unveiled September 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1462755
Date first listed:
28-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:
Winkleigh War Memorial
Statutory Address:
Churchyard of the Church of All Saints, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8HL
User submitted image
Contributed by Historic England Communications Team This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Over 400,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places. 

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

Icon Buildings
Icon Scheduled monuments
Icon Parks and gardens
Icon Battlefields
Icon Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Local Heritage Hub

Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.

Discover more

Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1462755
Date first listed:
28-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:
Winkleigh War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
Churchyard of the Church of All Saints, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8HL

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
Churchyard of the Church of All Saints, Winkleigh, Devon, EX19 8HL

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

County:
Devon
District:
Torridge (District Authority)
Parish:
Winkleigh
National Grid Reference:
SS6321308034

Summary

A First World War memorial, designed by Herbert Read. Unveiled September 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Winkleigh 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 well-executed and sombre design in the form of a Latin cross which is fitting for a memorial structure.

Group value:

* with several nearby listed buildings, including the Church of All Saints (Grade I) and Linden House (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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised within the churchyard of the Church of All Saints in Winkleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 24 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Considerable discussion took place within the village about the most suitable location for the war memorial, with some members of the committee advocating a civic memorial in the Square, and there were considerable delays to the project as a result. The memorial was designed and made by Herbert Read of St Sidwell’s Art Works, Exeter, and the costs were met by public subscription, with a total of £215 having been collected by May 1920. Read (1885–1951) was responsible for producing a number of war memorials in Devon, including those at Peamore, Lapford, Lympstone and Salcombe Regis, all listed at Grade II.

Winkleigh War Memorial was unveiled on 13 January 1921 by Colonel Alexander, a member of the War Memorial Committee, and dedicated by Reverend Edmonds. The names of six local men who died during the Second World War were added later.

Details

A First World War memorial, designed by Herbert Read. Unveiled September 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands within the churchyard and is carved from granite. It is a plain Latin cross with chamfered edges, and broach stops to the foot of the shaft, set upon a low, square pedestal. It has a two-stepped octagonal base and there is a concrete apron.

The principal dedicatory inscription is in leaded lettering on the front (west) face of the pedestal reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN THANKFUL MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF WINKLEIGH WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919. The names of the fallen are recorded on the north and south faces. The east face of the pedestal is inscribed: IN REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE 2ND WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ (NAMES).

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is approached by short flight of steps which have a plain metal balustrade and handrail.

Sources

Websites
The Winkleigh Memorial Cross, accessed 25 January 2019 from http://www.winkleighonline.com/wmc/crosshistory.htm
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, accessed 25 January 2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/26047
War Memorials Online database, accessed 25 January 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/247616/
Winkleigh War Memorial, MDV104728, Devon & Dartmoor HER, accessed 5 March 2019 from http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?resourceID=104&uid=MDV104728

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Winkleigh War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 17:15:27.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Previous Overview
Next Comments and Photos