History in Structure

Holcombe War Memorial, Somerset

A Grade II Listed Building in Holcombe, Somerset

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.2452 / 51°14'42"N

Longitude: -2.4718 / 2°28'18"W

OS Eastings: 367164

OS Northings: 149665

OS Grid: ST671496

Mapcode National: GBR MW.1ZHQ

Mapcode Global: VH89P.3YMT

Plus Code: 9C3V6GWH+37

Entry Name: Holcombe War Memorial, Somerset

Listing Date: 20 January 2017

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1442585

ID on this website: 101442585

Location: St Andrew's Church, Holcombe, Somerset, BA3

County: Somerset

District: Mendip

Civil Parish: Holcombe

Built-Up Area: Holcombe

Traditional County: Somerset

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Somerset

Tagged with: War memorial

Find accommodation in
Holcombe

Summary


First World War memorial, circa 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description


A churchyard First World War memorial cross of circa 1920 with later Second World War additions and alterations after 1945, which stands to the S of the Church of St Andrew, Holcombe, Somerset.

MATERIALS & PLAN: sandstone with bronze plaques. The wheelhead cross stands on a rectangular plinth and platform and faces W.

The E and W faces show the wheelhead cross, which has trefoil tracery to each quadrant. The arms of the cross have hollow chamfers at the edges and the shaft is tapered. It is supported on a plinth with a simple, cyma moulding to its top. A rectangular bronze plaque at the centre of the W face reads IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS / PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN / THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, HONOUR / AND RIGHT. Below this are recorded the names of the fallen from the First World War with their regiments and the date of their death. Below again it reads IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE / 1 COR. XV22.

The plaque on the N face reads IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF HOLCOMBE / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / FOR THEIR COUNTRY DURING / THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945, below which the names of the fallen are given with their service and their ages, which range from 19 to 23. The other two sides of the plinth are blank.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 21 February 2017.

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 Holcombe, Somerset as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the nine members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War a further inscription was added to commemorate the fallen of that conflict.


Reasons for Listing


Holcombe War Memorial, Somerset 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 an accomplished and well-realised war memorial, which takes the form of a sandstone cross with a wheel head on a tapered shaft.

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

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.