Selworthy War Memorial Cross

c40m to the west of the Church of All Saints, Selworthy, Somerset, TA24 8TP

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438280
Date first listed:: 27-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Selworthy War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: c40m to the west of the Church of All Saints, Selworthy, Somerset, TA24 8TP

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438280
Date first listed:: 27-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Selworthy War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: c40m to the west of the Church of All Saints, Selworthy, Somerset, TA24 8TP

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: c40m to the west of the Church of All Saints, Selworthy, Somerset, TA24 8TP

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Somerset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Selworthy
National Park:: EXMOOR
National Grid Reference:: SS9194346815

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Selworthy War Memorial Cross, which stands at the roadside in central Selworthy, 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: an elegant memorial cross in the medieval style; * Group value: with the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed) and a number of Grade II-listed buildings in close proximity.

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 Selworthy as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by eight members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was in place by 1929, when it was mapped by the Ordnance Survey on the 1:2500 County Series map of Somerset. Following the Second World War the names of eight men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

The tall stone memorial cross stands on a raised paved platform at the roadside, to the west of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed) and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings, in the Holnicote Estate (National Trust). It takes the form of an equal-armed cross at the top of a tapering shaft, that stands on an octagonal pedestal. That stands on an octagonal two-stepped base.

The First World War dedication and names are recorded on a bronze plaque fixed to the front face of the upper step, reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE GREAT WAR/ (8 NAMES) with the dates 1914 1918 either side of the column of names. The Second World War plaque, fixed to the front face of the lower step, repeats this dedication with the dates 1939 1945 either side of the column of names.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 15 March 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 05/01/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/149134
War Memorials Register, accessed 15 March 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1334
Other
Ordnance Survey 1:2500 County Series, Somerset (1929 Edn).

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.