Hunsdon War Memorial
Junction of High Street and Acorn Street, Hunsdon, East Hertfordshire, SG12 8NZ
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1469270
- Date first listed:
- 16-Apr-2021
- List Entry Name:
- Hunsdon War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Junction of High Street and Acorn Street, Hunsdon, East Hertfordshire, SG12 8NZ
Location
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1469270
- Date first listed:
- 16-Apr-2021
- List Entry Name:
- Hunsdon War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Junction of High Street and Acorn Street, Hunsdon, East Hertfordshire, SG12 8NZ
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Junction of High Street and Acorn Street, Hunsdon, East Hertfordshire, SG12 8NZ
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hertfordshire
- District:
- East Hertfordshire (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Hunsdon
- National Grid Reference:
- TL4176214075
Summary
A First World War memorial, unveiled 21 November 1921 with later plaque commemorating the fallen of the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Hunsdon 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 this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet elegant example of a granite wheel-head cross.
Group value:
* with The Crown Public House (Grade II) and the Village Hall (Grade II) and other listed buildings along the High Street.
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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Hunsdon as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was made by Mr C Smith and unveiled on 21 November 1921 and dedicated by Bishop Hodges. Historic photographs show that it was once enclosed by low posts and chains but these have since been removed.
A plaque was later added to the memorial commemorating seven of the fallen who died in the Second World War.
The cleaning and repair of the memorial was financed by the Parish Council in 2000.
Details
A First World War memorial, unveiled 21 November 1921 with later plaque commemorating the fallen of the Second World War.
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: Hunsdon War Memorial stands on a paved base and takes the form of a rough hewn granite Celtic wheel-head cross incorporating smooth polished areas which bear the inscriptions.
At the bottom of the shaft on the north face, the dedication reads: IN / HONOURED MEMORY / OF / THE MEN OF / HUNSDON / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1919. On the north face of the plinth are inscribed the names of the 18 First World War fallen.
This inscription is repeated on the base of the shaft on the south face: IN / HONOURED MEMORY / OF / THE MEN OF / HUNSDON / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1939 – 1945. Set into the plinth on the south face are the seven names of the fallen from the Second World War.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register - Imperial War Museum, accessed 6 February 2020 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3744
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 14:47:22.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.