Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The memorial stands in a small garden at the junction of Front Street and New Road. It comprises a tall polished granite obelisk, square on plan, rising from the pedimented top of a tapering plinth. The plinth has a four-stage base and is enclosed by a low stone kerb. The kerb used to include a chain suspended from low pillars. Wreaths are carved in low relief in each face of the plinth’s pediment.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the plinth reads IN THANKFUL RECOGNITION OF/ THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR SERVICES/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR (NAMES)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAT THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR/ HIS FRIENDS/ ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF/ BURNOPFIELD AND DISTRICT. Below this the dates 1914 – 1918 are carved in low relief. The remaining commemorated names are inscribed on the other faces of the plinth; all the inscriptions are gilded.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 7 February 2017.

History

Burnopfield War Memorial, made by W Ayton and Sons of Blackhill, was unveiled on 29 January 1921 by Major Shiel DSO and dedicated by Reverend J Madill. It commemorates 133 local servicemen who died in the First World War. The funds were raised by public subscription whilst the land was given by the Watson family of Burnopfield House. The War Memorial Committee was also able to gift an ambulance to the Burnopfield Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade, in memory of those who had died. The total cost of the obelisk and ambulance was £1,600. Following the Second World War the details of those who fell in that conflict were added.

W Ayton and Sons were also responsible for war memorials in the region including those at Greencroft (Grade II-listed), Iveston and Shotley Bridge.

Reasons for Listing

Burnopfield War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Front Street and New 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a tall and well-proportioned obelisk in the Classical style.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677979

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

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  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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