Layham War Memorial

Layham Burial Ground, Lower Street, Layham, Suffolk, IP7 5LZ

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

Overview

A war memorial erected in 1919 in the village of Layham, Suffolk. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468467
Date first listed:: 09-Mar-2020
List Entry Name:: Layham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Layham Burial Ground, Lower Street, Layham, Suffolk, IP7 5LZ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1468467
Date first listed:: 09-Mar-2020
List Entry Name:: Layham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Layham Burial Ground, Lower Street, Layham, Suffolk, IP7 5LZ

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:: Layham Burial Ground, Lower Street, Layham, Suffolk, IP7 5LZ

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: Babergh (District Authority)
Parish:: Layham
National Grid Reference:: TM0301140300

Summary

A war memorial erected in 1919 in the village of Layham, Suffolk.

Reasons for Designation

Layham War Memorial, erected in 1919 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 an imposing example of a wheel-cross type of war memorial.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Andrew (listed at 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 at Layham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on Thursday 4 December 1919 by the Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

The names of those parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

A war memorial erected in 1919 in the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew, Layham in Suffolk.

MATERIALS: the memorial is formed of pale grey granite, the body of the memorial smooth-faced, whilst the lower steps of the base are rock-faced.

DETAILS: the memorial stands in a prominent position at the centre of the village burial ground, on the opposite side of the road to the Church of St Andrew (listed at Grade II). It comprises a wheel cross and tapered shaft set on a deep tapered plinth standing on a three-stepped base.

The main inscription on the east face of the plinth reads: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ AND IN COMMEMORATION/ OF THE SERVICES OF THE/ MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FOUGHT IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The names of the fallen are on the north and south faces of the plinth. A further inscription on the west face of the plinth reads: 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
Hadleigh Great War Centenary Project 2014-2018 , accessed 25 July 2017 from http://www.hadleighww1.com/layham-1/
War Memorials Online, Layham, accessed 25 July 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/248828/
War Memorials Register, Imperial War Museum , accessed 25 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4457

Legal

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