Summary

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

Description

The war memorial stands in a small enclosure on the south-west side of Finedon Road, some way out of central Irthlingborough. Overall the memorial is c8m tall. In limestone, it takes the form of a fluted, circular, column topped with a ball finial, from which rises an ornate metal cross. The finial stands on an urn-shaped pedestal, each side of which is decorated with the flower symbols of the United Kingdom, carved in low relief and gilded.

The column rises from a three-stage, stepped, base with one square section above two octagonal ones. A slate plaque fixed to the front face of the uppermost stage carries the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN/ AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF IRTHLINGBOROUGH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918. On the rear face of this stage a slate plaque is inscribed LEST WE FORGET. On the two side faces similar plaques record the names of those who fell 1939-1945. Running around the second tier of the base are slate plaques with the names of those who died in the First World War.

The memorial stands within a small flagged enclosure defined to the front by concrete posts and iron railings. Hedges enclose the side and rear. A red brick structure, which is not of special interest, provides seating in the centre of the front of the enclosure.

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, 17 January 2017.

History

The memorial, commissioned by a War Memorial Committee to commemorate the 151 local servicemen who died fighting during the First World War, was unveiled on 13 November 1921. Sir W Ryland Adkins KC MP delivered an oration at the ceremony. A location at the end of Manton Road had been favoured in a referendum of townspeople, but the memorial was built on Finedon Road. The names of those who died serving in the Second World War were added at a later date.

Reasons for Listing

Irthlingborough War Memorial, on Finedon 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;
* Design: a sandstone column of some elaboration in the Classical style.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677514

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]