Higham War Memorial

Lower Green, Junction with Higham Road, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NJ

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions. It was designed by Mr HG Neville of Mildenhall. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1465078
Date first listed:: 01-Nov-2019
List Entry Name:: Higham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Lower Green, Junction with Higham Road, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NJ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1465078
Date first listed:: 01-Nov-2019
List Entry Name:: Higham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Lower Green, Junction with Higham Road, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NJ

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:: Lower Green, Junction with Higham Road, Higham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6NJ

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: West Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Higham
National Grid Reference:: TL7458365946

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions. It was designed by Mr HG Neville of Mildenhall.

Reasons for Designation

Higham War Memorial, erected in 1920 to a design by Mr HG Neville of Mildenhall, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a simple obelisk atop a three-stepped square base.

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 Higham in Sufffolk as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Designed by Mr HG Neville of Mildenhall, the memorial was unveiled on 4 September 1920 by Mrs Bacheler Russell and dedicated by the Reverend D Barclay of Braintree. The cost of the memorial was met by public subscription. Additional funds were raised for its refurbishment in 1932.

Following the Second World War the names of four parishioners who fell during that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions. It was designed by Mr HG Neville of Mildenhall.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises an obelisk with a three-stepped square base, a large capital carved with sprigs of ivy and a pyramidal cap.

The main inscription is in incised lettering on the south face of the obelisk and reads: THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED IN / EVER GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES FOR GOD AND KING FOR / RIGHT FOR FREEDOM AND FOR PEACE / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914–1919 / [Names].

On the east face is the Second World War dedication which reads 1939 - 1945 / [Names].

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum's War Memorials Register - Higham War Memorial , accessed 11 June 2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4553
Other
Bury Free Press, 11 September 1920, pp2
Bury Free Press, 31 December 1932

Legal

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