Summary
First World War memorial, built 1919; altered after the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, built 1919; altered after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: granite
DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a square pillar of granite with a moulded pyramidal cap, square plinth and a two-stepped square base. Each face has a stone plaque with a leaf motif and decorative band above. The east face of the memorial has the inscription: IN / PROUD / MEMORY OF / THE MEN FROM / THIS PARISH / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE SERVICE OF / THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE / GREAT WAR / 1914 -1918 with the names of the fallen on the north and south faces. The west face has the following inscription: ALSO OF THOSE / WHO FELL IN THE / 1939 - 1945 / WAR / followed by the names of the three men lost in that conflict.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Barnham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 19 men of the parish who lost their lives in the First World War. The site cost £150, and the memorial was made by stonemason RH Hall. The war memorial was unveiled on 28 August 1919. The ceremony was attended by Mrs Fitzhugh, wife of the Rector of Barnham who dedicated the memorial.
Following the Second World War a further plaque was added to commemorate the three men from the parish who died during that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Barnham War Memorial 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 conflicts of the C20;
Architectural interest:
* as a well-carved and ornate example of a pillar-type of war memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Memorial Cottages.
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)
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)