Bury St Edmunds War Memorial

Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1UZ

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, built 1921; altered after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468360
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Bury St Edmunds War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1UZ

User submitted image — Uploaded by Sandy Gerrard 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.
View all

Location

Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.

There is a problem

Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions.

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.

What is the National Heritage List for England?

The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.

The list includes:

🏠 Buildings
🏰 Scheduled monuments
🌳 Parks and gardens
⚔️ Battlefields
⚓ Shipwrecks

Find out more about listing

Historic England Archive

Search over 1 million photographs and drawings from the 1850s to the present day using our images archive.

Find Photos

Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468360
Date first listed:: 16-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Bury St Edmunds War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1UZ

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:: Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1UZ

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: West Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Bury St. Edmunds
National Grid Reference:: TL8549864291

Summary

A First World War memorial, built 1921; altered after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Bury St Edmunds War Memorial 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: *for its design, a well-executed wheel-head cross in local stone.

Group value: *with the numerous listed buildings in the immediate area (some of which are Grade I), the Abbey scheduled monument, and the Grade II-registered Abbey Gardens and Precincts.

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 Bury St Edmunds, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 427 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

After discussions about an appropriate memorial, in April 1920 a scheme for a new free-standing memorial was adopted and an appeal raised for funds. The memorial was designed by architect Sidney Naish and constructed by builders Messrs Linzell and Edmundson. It was unveiled on Thursday 13 October 1921 by General Lord Horne GCB KCMG ADC and dedicated by the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Following the Second World War, the original inscription was altered and a dedication added to commemorate those who fell in that conflict.

Details

A First World War memorial, built 1921; altered after the Second World War and later.

MATERIALS Clipsham stone.

DESCRIPTION The war memorial stands in a prominent location on the corner of Angel Hill, close to the medieval Abbey Gate. It is 4.5m high and comprises a large wheel-cross on top of a three-stepped octagonal base.

In a recessed panel on the west face of the upper step is incised: 1914-1919 / 1939-1945. Beneath this, the west face of the second step is inscribed: IN PROUD AND THANKFUL MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF BURY ST EDMUNDS / WHO WENT TO THE GREAT WARS / AND LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. The eastern faces of the base are inscribed (upper step) TO / THE GLORIOUS DEAD / (second step) LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER / SEE TO IT/ THAT THEY BE NOT FORGOTTEN. The north face of the second step of the base is inscribed: THE ROLL OF HONOUR WHICH RESTS ON A LECTERN / IN THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST JAMES / CONTAINS THE NAMES OF 427 MEN OF THIS TOWN / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE. The south face of the second step of the base is inscribed: THIS MEMORIAL CROSS / WAS UNVEILED BY / GENERAL LORD HORNE GCB KCMG / ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 13th 1921.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register – Bury St Edmunds World War I and World War II Cross , accessed 06/12/2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5169
War Memorials Online – Bury St Edmunds War Memorial, accessed 06/12/2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/122665
Other
‘Bury War Memorial Unveiling’. The Bury Free Press, 22 October 1921, p5
‘Lest we Forget! Memorial to Bury’s Fallen Heroes. Yesterday’s impressive scene on the Angel Hill’. The Bury Free Press, 15 October 1921, p7

Legal

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