Ivybridge War Memorial

Junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9AE

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Overview

First World War memorial, of 1922, 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:: 1465482
Date first listed:: 29-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Ivybridge War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9AE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1465482
Date first listed:: 29-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Ivybridge War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9AE

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:: Junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9AE

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

County:: Devon
District:: South Hams (District Authority)
Parish:: Ivybridge
National Grid Reference:: SX6359556231

Summary

First World War memorial, of 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Ivybridge War Memorial, 1922, 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:

* an elegant monument built in durable granite, which is unaltered, and continues to reflect the sentiments of the community by whom it was erected.

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 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 Ivybridge as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 44 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

When a First World War memorial tablet was installed in Ivybridge Parish Church at the beginning of June 1920 plans were already being considered to erect a town war memorial in a central location. The unveiling of Ivybridge’s war memorial took place on 24 September 1922 and was carried out by Colonel FB Mildmay.

In 1935, Ivybridge Urban Council discussed ways to prevent “irreverent treatment” of the war memorial; it is presumed that the chains, suspended from shaped posts, were added at that time. Following the end of the Second World War, the pillars at either side of the memorial were re-faced and the names of 26 fallen from that conflict were added.

Details

First World War memorial, of 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: constructed from grey granite.

PLAN: the memorial stands at the junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, facing south.

DESCRIPTION: a Latin cross rising from a slim pedestal, set at the centre of a curved screen wall. The screen has recessed panels bearing inscriptions, and a pedimented pier at either end.

The pedestal, inscribed with applied lead lettering, reads ‘IN HONOUR / OF THE MEN OF IVYBRIDGE / WHO MADE THE / SUPREME SACRIFICE / FOR THEIR / COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. The names of the 44 fallen from the First World War are recorded on the recessed panels on the wall of the memorial. The south faces of both piers list thirteen names each, under the dedication ‘1939-1945’.

The memorial stands on a paved area with a dwarf post and chain fence.

Sources

Websites
Ivybridge War Memorial, Dartmoor Trust Archive, accessed 01/07/2019 from http://www.dartmoorarchive.org/record/108833
Ivybridge, Imperial War Museums War Memorials Register, accessed 01/07/2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/25594
Other
‘Col F B Mildmay, MP’, Western Times, 29 September 1922, p4
‘Ivybridge Plan’, Western Morning News, 5 March 1935, p5
‘Ivybridge War Memorial’, Western Morning News, 4 June 1920, p8

Legal

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