Summary

First World War Memorial. Circa 1920, with further inscriptions added later. It was re-sited to its current location in 1994.

Description

First World War Memorial. Circa 1920, with further inscriptions added later. It was re-sited to its current location in 1994.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial, in the form of a calvary, stands at the south-western corner of the churchyard and faces south. It comprises the figure of the crucified Christ, carved in oak on a wooden cross surmounted by a timber canopy clad in shingles. It stands on a square Hamstone plinth with chamfered corners, set on a stone step and a late-C20 concrete base. The south face of the base carries a plaque which is inscribed 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ (NAMES)/ GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST’. A later plaque inscription on the east face is inscribed: ‘TO THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WAR/ 1939-1945./ (NAMES)’. The plaque on the opposite face commemorates the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 14 December 2016.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the single biggest wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected, probably in the early 1920s, in Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset to commemorate the eight men of the parish who died during the conflict. A further plaque was added to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V in May 1935 and to further commemorate the fallen. Following the Second World War a further five names were added to the monument in memory of the men who died during this conflict. In 1994 the memorial was moved a short distance from the opposite (west) side of Church Street to its current position in the south-west corner of the churchyard.

Reasons for Listing

The Shepton Beauchamp war memorial, probably erected in the early 1920s, is listed at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an accomplished and well-executed war memorial, in the form of a timber Calvary, with commemorative plaques on its stone plinth;
* Group value: the memorial groups well with a number of listed buildings and monuments including several chest tombs (Grade II) and the Church of St Michael (Grade I).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26676918

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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