Bitteswell War Memorial

St Mary's Churchyard, The Nook, Bitteswell, Leicestershire, LE17 4RY

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

Overview

First World War memorial, built in around 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464644
Date first listed:: 04-Jul-2019
List Entry Name:: Bitteswell War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Mary's Churchyard, The Nook, Bitteswell, Leicestershire, LE17 4RY

Bitteswells war memorial is situated on the corner of the wall of St Mary's Church Bitteswell. — Uploaded by Rob Woodward This photo may not represent the current condition of the site. Almost 350,000 images and stories have been added to the Missing Pieces Project so far. Share your story.
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464644
Date first listed:: 04-Jul-2019
List Entry Name:: Bitteswell War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Mary's Churchyard, The Nook, Bitteswell, Leicestershire, LE17 4RY

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:: St Mary's Churchyard, The Nook, Bitteswell, Leicestershire, LE17 4RY

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

County:: Leicestershire
District:: Harborough (District Authority)
Parish:: Bitteswell with Bittesby
National Grid Reference:: SP5375985843

Summary

First World War memorial, built in around 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Bitteswell War Memorial, which is set into St Mary’s Churchyard boundary wall, is listed 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:

* as a simple but well-executed and good quality sandstone, slate, and Portland stone memorial;

Group Value

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary.

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 Bitteswell, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Bitteswell War Memorial was erected on the boundary wall of the Church of St Mary facing Lutterworth Road, in around 1920. The memorial was relocated on the boundary wall to The Nook at an unknown date.

Details

First World War memorial, built in around 1920.

MATERIALS: sandstone; Portland stone

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on the churchyard wall of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary, beside a path leading to the church. It comprises a moulded sandstone surround with stepped and pedimented coping, and a moulded cornice with a central relief-carved laurel wreath below. The surround frames an incised Portland stone tablet mounted on a slate panel. The memorial is on a moulded base with flanking supports.

The inscription is in incised lettering and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD & IN IMPERISHABLE MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 - 1919/ followed by the 18 names of those who fell. At the bottom of the tablet is incised R.I.P. / THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums War Memorials Register – Men of Bitteswell , accessed 20/05/2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/38122
Leicester County Council’s Leicestershire & Rutland War Memorials Project, accessed 20/05/2019 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/150

Legal

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