Dymock War Memorial

B4215, Dymock, GL18 2AQ

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

Overview

War memorial, erected around 1920. Unknown architect. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1483167
Date first listed:: 05-Oct-2022
List Entry Name:: Dymock War Memorial
Statutory Address:: B4215, Dymock, GL18 2AQ

Dymock's war memorial stands on a green in front of St Mary's church, the tower of which can be seen in the background. — Uploaded by Brook Bishop This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1483167
Date first listed:: 05-Oct-2022
List Entry Name:: Dymock War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: B4215, Dymock, GL18 2AQ

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:: B4215, Dymock, GL18 2AQ

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

County:: Gloucestershire
District:: Forest of Dean (District Authority)
Parish:: Dymock
National Grid Reference:: SO7003231180

Summary

War memorial, erected around 1920. Unknown architect.

Reasons for Designation

Dymock 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 humble and well-realised design in the form of a floriated sandstone cross atop a hexagonal column and squared plinth with five-stepped hexagonal sandstone base; * for the crisp incised lettering of its inscriptions.

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 Dymock as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Dymock War Memorial is centrally located on Wintour’s Green immediately south of the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and north of The White House (Grade II).

The memorial cross was erected around 1920 together with an illuminated wall tablet in the Church of St Mary to commemorate the sacrifice of twenty-nine parishioners who died during the First World War. The stepped base of the memorial was later altered to add the names of ten parishioners who died during the Second World War and was unveiled by Canon D Gethyn-Jones RD on 6 November 1949.

Details

War memorial, erected around 1920. Unknown architect.

MATERIALS: carved from sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a floriated cross atop a hexagonal column with a squared plinth that stands on a five-step hexagonal base with chamfered edges. The plinth and uppermost steps of the base bear inscriptions in incised letters. The names of twenty-nine parishioners who died in the First World War are inscribed on the north, east and west faces of the plinth. The inscription to the south face of the plinth reads:

IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO MADE THE / SUPREME SACRIFICE / FOR THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 / THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE

The two uppermost steps on the south face of the base were altered around 1949 to commemorate ten parishioners who died as a result of the Second World War. The dates ‘1939-1945’ are inscribed into the chamfered edge of the top step with the names of two parishioners into the face. The second step from the top has had a section cut in line with the face of the top step to create a flat surface inscribed with a further eight names and a small cross below the central two names.

Sources

Books and journals
Gethyn-Jones, J E, Dymock down the Ages, (1966), 142-143
Websites
Dymock, accessed 4 August 2022 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/49594
Dymock, accessed 4 August 2022 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/254677
Other
Gloucestershire County Council: Historic Environment Record, 'Dymock War Memorial, St. Mary's Church, Dymock' (53120)

Legal

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