Summary
A war memorial in the form of a Portland stone Corinthian column with bronze sculpture of a dove.
Description
A war memorial of 1920 date.
MATERIALS: constructed of Portland stone with a bronze sculpture of a dove and granite tablets.
DESCRIPTION: comprising a tall Corinthian column surmounted by a carved stone urn, on top of which is affixed a bronze dove facing out to sea with its wings extended. The column is set atop a large square plinth and the whole stands on a three-stepped base.
The main inscription is mounted on a stone tablet affixed to the south-east face of the plinth and reads: ERECTED BY THE/ PEOPLE OF FELIXSTOWE/ TO THE MEMORY OF THEIR/ MEN WHO WERE KILLED IN/ ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS/ OR DISEASE IN THE SERVICE/ OF KING AND COUNTRY/ DURING THE GREAT WAR/ 1914–1918. The names of the First World War fallen are listed on tablets affixed to the north-east and south-west faces of the plinth.
The north-west face of the plinth bears a tablet with the inscription: THE SUM OF £1000 WAS/ ALSO SUBSCRIBED BY/ THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND/ GIVEN TO THE ENDOWMENT/ FUND OF THE FELIXSTOWE/ COTTAGE HOSPITAL FOR/ THE ALLEVIATION OF/ HUMAN SUFFERING.
Four reclining stone tablets of dark grey polished granite were subsequently set centrally against the steps on each side of the base. Each tablet is headed with the dates 1939–1945 and lists the names of the Second World War fallen in whitened incised lettering.
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. The memorials, therefore, provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Felixstowe as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 163 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 15 August 1920 by Sir Courtenay Warner.
The names of the 111 parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Felixstowe War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* it is 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:
* it is a well-detailed and elegant war memorial in the form of a Corinthian column surmounted by a stone urn and bronze statue of a dove.
Group value:
* it has group value with Cliff Gardens and Town Hall Garden (Registered at Grade II).
External Links
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Recommended Books
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)