Walkhampton War Memorial

Walkhampton, Devon, PL20 6JR

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

Overview

War memorial, erected in about 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1465635
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Walkhampton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Walkhampton, Devon, PL20 6JR

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1465635
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Walkhampton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Walkhampton, Devon, PL20 6JR

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:: Walkhampton, Devon, PL20 6JR

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

County:: Devon
District:: West Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Walkhampton
National Park:: DARTMOOR
National Grid Reference:: SX5331769666

Summary

War memorial, erected in about 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Walkhampton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* as a well-realised example of a Latin cross type memorial.

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

History

The great age of memorial building was in the aftermath of the First World War 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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

Walkhampton War Memorial was erected in about 1920 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 15 parishioners who died during the First World War.

The names of seven men who died during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial, along with a stone vase that provides an additional commemoration for R F J Martin.

Details

War memorial, erected in about 1920.

MATERIALS: carved from granite with inscriptions in lead lettering.

DESCRIPTION: located in a prominent position at the road junction at the centre of the village of Walkhampton, the memorial comprises a Latin cross of octagonal section standing on a four-stepped octagonal base. The whole stands on an octagonal platform that has been largely concealed by tarmac.

The inscription on the east face of the upper step of the base reads:

TO THE VALOUR AND / DEVOTION OF THE MEN / OF THIS PARISH WHO / FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919, I STAND / TO BEAR PROUD AND / LASTING WITNESS.

The names, ranks and regiments of the 15 men who died during the war are recorded on the other seven faces of the upper step.

Beneath is the additional inscription:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD / IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO / MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / 1939 –1945

The names of the seven men who died in the Second World War are given on the south, west and north face.

To the south side, beneath the recorded name of R F J Martin, is a square granite vase with the inscription:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF / OUR BELOVED SON / ROBERT F. J. MARTIN, RN / HMS GLOUCESTER

Sources

Websites
Walkhampton War Memorial, accessed 9 July 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2926
Walkhampton War Memorial, accessed 9 July 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/220416/
Other
Walkhampton War Memorial (MVD 103815) Dartmoor National Park Authority Historic Environment Record

Legal

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