Summary

First World War memorial.

Description

First World War memorial.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands on the village green in the centre of Tarrant Monkton. It is nearly 3m high and comprises a short Portland stone obelisk on a tapering square Portland stone plinth upon a limestone block base. The obelisk carries a furled banner and wreath carved in relief on the front face.

The square plinth bears the inscription in black painted incised letters: SACRED/ TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE FOLLOWING MEN FROM/ TARRANT MONKTON/ AND LAUNCESTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR. 1914 – 18./ (NAMES).

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 Tarrant Monkton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by men of Tarrant Monkton and Tarrant Launceston who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial is set within a semi-circular enclosure comprising a stone wall of varying height, with a stone-paved path and two small, flanking trees which act as a contrast to the white memorial.

Reasons for Listing

Tarrant Monkton and Launceston War Memorial, which stands on the village green at Tarrant Monkton, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an elegant and well-executed Portland stone obelisk with carved decorative details.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed Langton Arms Public House, the Grade II*-listed Church of All Saints and other listed buildings around the green.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q61043386

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

• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)