Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920 with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

Description

First and Second World War memorial. Erected c1920 with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

MATERIALS: granite set in a concrete foundation.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands in the churchyard of the church of St Peter, near the centre of Portesham, and faces east. It is to the south of the Grade I listed medieval church. The memorial comprises a rough-hewn granite cross aiguisé (pointed cross) upon a tapering shaft c2.5m high that rises from a square plinth and two-tier stepped base. Both the plinth and base are set diagonally and rest on a concrete foundation, altogether 1m high. The south-east face of the plinth is inscribed in black lettering: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ (NAMES) and the north-east side is inscribed: (NAMES)/ R.I.P. There are 14 names of the Fallen of the First World War, including regiment. On the north-west side is the inscription: 1939-1945/ (NAMES)/ R.I.P, with seven names of the Fallen.

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, 7 December 2016.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in c1920 to commemorate 14 residents of Portesham who died during the conflict. A further inscription was added to the memorial following the Second World War, to commemorate seven residents who lost their lives.

Reasons for Listing

Portesham war memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Peter, 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;
* Group value: with the Grade I listed church of St Peter and Grade II listed monuments in the churchyard.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677404

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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  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
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  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
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