Almeley War Memorial

opposite the Church of St Mary, Almeley, Herefordshire, HR3 6LD

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, designed by sculptor William G Storr Barber, erected in 1919; altered by the addition of further names following the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1462968
Date first listed:: 05-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:: Almeley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: opposite the Church of St Mary, Almeley, Herefordshire, HR3 6LD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1462968
Date first listed:: 05-Mar-2019
List Entry Name:: Almeley War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: opposite the Church of St Mary, Almeley, Herefordshire, HR3 6LD

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:: opposite the Church of St Mary, Almeley, Herefordshire, HR3 6LD

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

District:: County of Herefordshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Almeley
National Grid Reference:: SO3331751529

Summary

A First World War memorial, designed by sculptor William G Storr Barber, erected in 1919; altered by the addition of further names following the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Almeley 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 church’s community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* for its design, a well-executed inscribed pedestal surmounted by the poignant sculpted figure of a First World War infantry soldier.

Group value:

* with Church House Barn (Grade II), the Church of St Mary (Grade I), a churchyard cross (Grade II), a water pump (Grade II) and Almeley 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 at Almeley 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 William G Storr Barber (sculptor) of Leominster, who erected similar memorials at nearby New Radnor and Dilwyn and designed the Royal Marines memorial on Plymouth Hoe. The memorial was unveiled on 11 August 1919 by Major-General Sir Elliott Wood.

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

Details

A First World War memorial, designed by sculptor William G Storr Barber, erected in 1919; altered by the addition of further names following the Second World War.

MATERIALS Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION The memorial takes the form of a statue of a First World War infantry soldier with head bowed, holding an inverted rifle and helmet, standing on a high, square-section stone plinth on a two-stepped square stone platform.

The main inscription in incised lettering on the west face of the plinth reads: THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918/ THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED BY THE/ GRATEFUL PARISH OF ALMELEY TO/ COMMEMORATE THE NAMES OF ITS/ FAITHFUL SONS WHO FOUGHT AND/ DIED FOR ENGLAND AND LIBERTY/ (19 NAMES)/.

An additional inscription on the upper step of the base reads: ALSO/ 1939–1945/ (6 NAMES)/.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register: Almeley War Memorial, accessed 06.02.2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/32209
War Memorials Online Database, Almeley War Memorial WMO166644 , accessed 06.02.2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/166644/
Other
War Memorial Art at Home, in ‘Our Notebook’, Illustrated London News, Saturday 23 August 1919

Legal

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