Summary
First World War memorial, granite cross unveiled in 1920.
Description
The war memorial stands in the south-east corner of the churchyard of the Church of St James (Grade I) and close to a Grade II-listed chest tomb. It takes the form of a granite wheel-head cross with a reversed sword carved in low relief to the front. The cross shaft rises from a tapered plinth, which stands on a square base.
The dedicatory inscription, to the front face of the plinth, reads “TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ NOBLE LIVES LAID DOWN BY MEN/ OF IDDESLEIGH 1914 – 1919.”/ (7 NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.
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, 22 November 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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 Iddesleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 7 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The cross was unveiled in June 1920 by Mrs Smyth-Osbourne during a ceremony and service led by the Rector, Reverend JR Paramore, with the Rural Dean, Reverend Emlyn Jones.
Reasons for Listing
Iddesleigh War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant granite wheel-head cross incorporating the reversed sword symbol.
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration and thus retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St James (Grade I) and the Chest Tomb approximately 4m to the south of the Church of St James (Grade II).
External Links
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
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)