Summary

First World War memorial. Erected c1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The war memorial stands in a cemetery to the south-east of the churchyard of Chilmark’s Grade II*-listed church of St Margaret of Antioch.

The memorial comprises a four-stepped octagonal base surmounted by an octagonal plinth, octagonal tapering shaft and Latin cross of Chilmark stone. The southern face of the plinth bears the inscription: TO THE GLORY/ OF GOD AND IN/ MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO/ FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918.

The remaining seven sides of the plinth carry their names, which include the name of one woman.  The top step carries on its southern face: THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE. The opposite, northern face of the same step carries: 1939-1945.  The adjacent faces to right and left each carry a name. 

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, 25 July 2017.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Chilmark as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

Reasons for Listing

Chilmark War Memorial, which stands in the cemetery of the Church of St Margaret of Antioch, 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 limestone cross;
* Group value: with the nearby Grade II*-listed Church of St Margaret of Antioch.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678000

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)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets