Summary

First World War memorial. Erected 1921.

Description

First World War memorial. Erected 1921.

MATERIALS: Portland stone ashlar set on a concrete foundation.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands opposite a crossroads of the main street and the B3157 on the south side of the village, near to Holy Trinity Church and just to the west of the remains of the old village cross. It faces north, is set in concrete, and enclosed by a set of four ornamented metal posts linked by chains. The memorial comprises a Latin stone cross, bearing the letters I.H.S at the centre; Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus, saviour of mankind), rising from a roll-moulding upon a tapering chamfered shaft 2.5m high. The shaft stands on a square plinth, which rests on a three-tier stepped base, together 1.1m high. On the front of the plinth is inscribed a hexagram or Star of Creation, a trefoil, and the following words in black lettering: THE GREAT WAR/ AUG. 4. 1914 – NOV. 11. 1918/ IN SACRED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF SWYRE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR KING AND COUNTRY. The top tier of the base is inscribed: “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY”. On the east and west side of the plinth are six names of the Fallen.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 7 December 2016.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in 1921 on the site of the old village cross at Swyre to commemorate six men of the parish who lost their lives. A commemorative service was held on 25th July 1921 in Holy Trinity Church followed by an address and dedication at the war memorial.

The memorial was restored in 2005 by the Parish Council when it was cleaned and the lettering was renewed by a local stone mason.

Reasons for Listing

Swyre war memorial, erected in 1921 and situated at a crossroads on the south side of the village, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason:
* 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.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677409

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)