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Latitude: 51.2299 / 51°13'47"N
Longitude: -2.3212 / 2°19'16"W
OS Eastings: 377668
OS Northings: 147909
OS Grid: ST776479
Mapcode National: GBR 0S9.V99
Mapcode Global: VH97D.QB7Z
Plus Code: 9C3V6MHH+XG
Entry Name: War Memorial in the church forecourt
Listing Date: 9 August 2016
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1436594
ID on this website: 101436594
Location: Frome, Somerset, BA11
County: Somerset
District: Mendip
Civil Parish: Frome
Built-Up Area: Frome
Traditional County: Somerset
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Somerset
Tagged with: War memorial
A First World War memorial, dating from 1920.
A First World War memorial, dating from 1920.
MATERIALS: it is carved from blue Pennant stone.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial has an octagonal plan and is in the form of a stone Calvary cross. It has a sculpted figure of Christ beneath a gabled weatherhood and is surmounted by a foliated finial. The tall shaft is set into an octagonal plinth, on a semi-circular, two-stepped base of blue Pennant stone. The faces of the plinth have sunken and foliated panels that are each carved with one of the emblems or instruments of the Passion. The three front (south-east) panels are also inscribed, in inscribed lettering: TO THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: there is a dwarf wall along the rear curve of the platform, and to the front there were originally metal railings that have since been removed.
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, 14 December 2016.
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. One such memorial was erected in the forecourt of St John the Baptist’s Church and was unveiled and dedicated on 24 June 1920. The figure of Christ on the memorial is attributed to a local mason.
A war shrine in the form of a carved, wooden triptych was also erected in the churchyard in 1917, but this is no longer extant.
The war memorial in the forecourt to the Church of St John the Baptist, Frome is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Design interest: it is an accomplished and well-proportioned memorial in the form of a Calvary;
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Group value: with the Grade II* listed Church of St John the Baptist which forms its backdrop.
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.
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