Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

Swanbourne War Memorial stands in a small grassed area beside the junction of Winslow Road and Mursley Road, in a prominent position in the village opposite the Church of St Swithun (Grade II*-listed). Five concrete bollards connected by a chain demarcate the front of the area.

The memorial is a Portland stone obelisk, c4m tall, which rises from a two-stage, moulded, plinth. The plinth stands on a two-stepped, square, base. A wreath is carved in relief at the top of the obelisk on the front face, below which is inscribed 1914/ 1918. The names of all of the 67 men who served during the First World War are inscribed on the faces of the obelisk.

Carved on the front face of the upper stage of the plinth, the principal dedication reads IN HONOUR OF THE MEN/ OF SWANBOURNE/ WHO SERVED THEIR KING/ AND COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1918. A stone plaque which lies on the top step of the base is inscribed DIED IN THE WAR/ 1939-1945/ (2 NAMES).

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, 11 January 2017.

History

Erected in memory of all the men of Swanbourne who served during the First World War, the memorial was unveiled on 26 September 1920 by Admiral the Hon ER Fremantle KCB CMG. Fremantle had lived in Swanbourne since the 1860s, when not on service at sea, and is buried there. His son, Second Lt TFH Fremantle, died on 17 October 1915 and is commemorated on the memorial. Inscriptions for the Second World War were added at a later date. Minor repairs were carried out in 2010, funded by War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Swanbourne War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Winslow Road and Mursley Road, Swanbourne, 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 community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: an elegant and well-proportioned obelisk;
* Group value: with the Church of St Swithun (Grade II*-listed).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677373

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

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)