Summary
War memorial, unveiled in 1921, dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars.
Description
War memorial, unveiled in 1921, dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is rectangular in plan, constructed of granite, and takes the form of a Celtic wheel cross on a tapered rusticated plinth and rusticated step. The east elevation of the shaft and plinth bears the painted inscription LEST WE / FORGET // IN MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HADDENHAM / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918 / (34 NAMES). The west elevation of the plinth bears the painted inscription IN MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF HADDENHAM / WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / DURING THE WAR 1939 – 1945 / (12 NAMES). The memorial is bounded by stone paving, and stands in a prominent location on a small green at the junction of The Green, Station Road, Hop Row and High Street.
History
The aftermath of the First World War (1914-1918) 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 Haddenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 34 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The war memorial was unveiled in a ceremony on 27 January 1921, and blessed by Reverend Doctor Stephenson. Following the Second World War (1939-1945), the names of 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in that conflict were added to the war memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Haddenham War Memorial, unveiled in 1921, and dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as a modest but well-executed memorial.
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.
Group value:
* for the strong group value the war memorial holds with the nearby Church of Holy Trinity (listed at Grade I) and the Three Kings Inn (listed at 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
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas