Harkstead War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Lings Lane, Harkstead , Suffolk, IP9 1DD

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

Overview

First World War memorial, erected 1920 by EE Saunders of Ipswich, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468319
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Harkstead War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Lings Lane, Harkstead , Suffolk, IP9 1DD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468319
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Harkstead War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Lings Lane, Harkstead , Suffolk, IP9 1DD

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:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Lings Lane, Harkstead , Suffolk, IP9 1DD

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: Babergh (District Authority)
Parish:: Harkstead
National Grid Reference:: TM1940535246

Summary

First World War memorial, erected 1920 by EE Saunders of Ipswich, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Harkstead War Memorial, erected in 1920 by EE Saunders of Ipswich, with Second World War additions, 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:

* as a simple but well-executed Latin cross.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (listed 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 in the Suffolk parish of Harkstead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 local servicemen who lost their lives during the conflict. Designed and built by EE Saunders of Ipswich, it was unveiled on 9 June 1920 by Brigadier-General EH Rodwell and dedicated by Reverend HA Berner, Rector of Harkstead.

Following the Second World War the names of the four local servicemen who died during that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, erected 1920 by EE Saunders of Ipswich, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent position in the south side of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (listed Grade II*), on the west side of the footpath leading to the south porch. It takes the form of a Latin cross bearing a relief carving of a laurel wreath which rises from tall shaft which tapers in octagonal section from a battered octagonal plinth, the whole standing on a three-stepped base.

The First World War dedicatory inscription is in incised lettering on the south face of the plinth and the top step of the base and reads TO THE / GLORY OF GOD / AND IN / LOVING MEMORY / OF THE / BRAVE MEN / OF THIS PARISH / WHO GAVE THEIR / LIVES FOR THEIR / COUNTRY / IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 / THEIR NAME LIVETH / FOR EVERMORE. The names of the 12 local servicemen who died are inscribed on the plinth's east and west faces.

A further inscription on the plinth's north face reads ALSO THOSE / WHO FELL IN THE / SECOND / WORLD WAR [Names].

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online - Harkstead War Memorial, accessed 4 December 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/241911
War Memorials Register, Imperial War Museum - Harkstead War Memorial, accessed 4 December 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4436

Legal

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