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Latitude: 52.3472 / 52°20'49"N
Longitude: 1.4609 / 1°27'39"E
OS Eastings: 635818
OS Northings: 277766
OS Grid: TM358777
Mapcode National: GBR XNL.XV1
Mapcode Global: VHM72.88PG
Plus Code: 9F438FW6+V9
Entry Name: Chediston War Memorial
Listing Date: 26 January 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1452047
ID on this website: 101452047
Location: St Mary's Church, Chediston, East Suffolk, IP19
County: Suffolk
District: East Suffolk
Civil Parish: Chediston
Traditional County: Suffolk
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Suffolk
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial, unveiled 1922.
The Portland stone memorial, c2.75m tall, stands in a prominent location in the churchyard beside the path to the Church of St Mary (Grade I), close to Vicarage Cottages (Grade II). It comprises a plain equal-armed cross rising from a simply moulded collar on a gently tapering cross shaft. The shaft stands on a tapering plinth, square on plan, with a two-stepped base.
The main inscription on the front face of the plinth reads IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF/ CHEDISTON/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 1918/ (9 NAMES).
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 Chediston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by nine members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Built by Mr Fred Barber, who also constructed several other war memorials in nearby parishes, the memorial was unveiled on 1 January 1922 by Major Rodwell.
Chediston 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant war memorial cross;
* 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 Mary (Grade I) and Vicarage Cottages (Grade II).
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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