Little Barford War Memorial

Churchyard of St Denys Church, Little Barford, St Neots, Beds, PE19 6YE

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Overview

A First World War memorial probably dedicated in the 1920s. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1484690
Date first listed:: 08-Feb-2023
List Entry Name:: Little Barford War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Denys Church, Little Barford, St Neots, Beds, PE19 6YE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1484690
Date first listed:: 08-Feb-2023
List Entry Name:: Little Barford War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Denys Church, Little Barford, St Neots, Beds, PE19 6YE

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 St Denys Church, Little Barford, St Neots, Beds, PE19 6YE

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

District:: Bedford (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Little Barford
National Grid Reference:: TL1777756950

Summary

A First World War memorial probably dedicated in the 1920s.

Reasons for Designation

Little Barford 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

* as a good example of memorial design incorporating a decorated cross fleury giving it added design interest.

Group value

* it shares a functional relationship with the parish Church of St Denys, Little Barford.

History

The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Previously, memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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.

It is not known precisely when this memorial was constructed, though it was probably in the early 1920s. It commemorates seven individuals from the parish of Little Barford who lost their lives in the First World War. The name of the designer of the memorial is not known. The memorial is situated in the north-east corner of the churchyard of the parish Church of St Denys (listed Grade II*, NHLE 1114892). Inside the church is a timber plaque with a Roll of Honour commemorating all 28 men from the parish who served during the First World War.

Details

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: The memorial sits in the north-east part of the churchyard of the parish Church of St Denys, close to the entrance. It takes the form of a cross fleury with a roundel at the centre and raised decorative bands on both faces which is mounted on a short tapering shaft on a square-plan plinth of two tiers set on a base.

There are inscriptions on the north-east face of the base and both tiers of the plinth. On the upper tier is inscribed ‘IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919.’ Below this are inscribed the names of seven men who lost their lives in the First World War and on the base is inscribed ‘LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND, WE FOR ENGLAND DIED’.

Sources

Websites
UK Inventory of War Memorials, accessed 3rd October 2022 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/7602
War Memorials Online, accessed 3rd October 2022 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/172574/

Legal

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