Summary
First World War memorial.
Description
First World War memorial.
DESCRIPTION: Ickburgh war memorial is located within an enclosed area on the north side of Ashburton Road.
It takes the form of a stone statue depicting the seated figure of a mourning woman with a shawl covering her head and shoulders, holding a wreath and leaning against a jagged piece of rock. The statue has a four-stepped base, which surmounts a square pedestal with moulded cornice that is supported by pilasters to each corner. The pilasters have chamfered stops and stand on a narrow block foot that is chamfered along the top edge except at the corners. The whole surmounts a two-tiered plinth atop a narrow, square stone base.
The inscription is to the south face of the pedestal and reads in leaded lettering, THIS MEMORIAL/ WAS ERECTED IN/ GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The names of the dead are also in leaded lettering and are listed on the east and west faces of the pedestal.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: This memorial stands within a rectangular enclosure bounded by a regular-coursed, brick dwarf wall surmounted by decorative metal railings with fleur-de-lis finials. Entrance gates are situated at the southern side of the enclosure.
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 Ickburgh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Ickburgh war memorial, which is situated on Ashburton Road, 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 during the First World War.
Architectural interest:
* An elegant war memorial demonstrating fine craftsmanship in the poignant sculpted figure of a mourning woman.
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
Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)