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Latitude: 51.1479 / 51°8'52"N
Longitude: -2.7159 / 2°42'57"W
OS Eastings: 350020
OS Northings: 138978
OS Grid: ST500389
Mapcode National: GBR MK.7XDN
Mapcode Global: VH8B3.WD2W
Plus Code: 9C3V47XM+4J
Entry Name: Glastonbury War Memorial
Listing Date: 19 January 2016
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1431598
ID on this website: 101431598
Location: Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6
County: Somerset
District: Mendip
Civil Parish: Glastonbury
Built-Up Area: Glastonbury
Traditional County: Somerset
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Somerset
Tagged with: War memorial Memorial
A First World War memorial, dating from 1920 and designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, altered by the names of the fallen of the Second World War after 1945.
A First World War Memorial of 1920, altered by the names of the fallen of the Second World War.
MATERIALS AND PLAN
The memorial is built of Doulting stone and is rectangular on plan.
DESCRIPTION
The memorial stands approximately 6m high and consists of a Maltese cross on a shaft which sits on a tapering plinth. The cross has at its centre an emblem symbolising the first two letters of the Greek name of Christ, with the letters N I K H in the four arms, for the Greek 'Nike', meaning Victory.
The shaft is decorated with carved Celtic plait work designs, and has at its centre a further carved symbol showing two birds eating from the Tree of Life, representing the immortality of the soul. At the base of the shaft is a plaque commemorating the fallen of the Second World War, with the inscription, "THIS TABLET WAS ADDED/ IN MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE/ WORLD WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ (NAMES)/ THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE".
The plinth contains plaques commemorating the fallen of the First World War, with the inscription, "TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS TOWN WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ (NAMES)/ THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE/ ALSO IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION OF THOSE WHO RETURNED".
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES
The memorial stands on a stone stepped base.
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, 14 December 2016.
This First World War memorial was unveiled in 1920 and was designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, the noted architect, archaeologist and researcher who at that time was Director of Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey.
The memorial was altered following the Second World War by the addition of the names of the fallen of that conflict.
Glastonbury War Memorial, designed by Frederick Bligh Bond, 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;
* Design: a well executed stone cross, with interesting detailing.
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.
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