Summary

War memorial, erected c1920, dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars.

Description

War memorial, erected c1920, dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars.

The war memorial takes the form of a plain metal Latin cross, standing atop a tall square-plan stone pillar, stone plinth and two-stepped stone base. The plinth bears a recessed panel on its east elevation, with an inserted metal plaque, which reads: ‘TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ (3 NAMES)/ WHO FELL IN BATTLE 1914-8’. A stone tablet was later added to the south elevation of the plinth, and reads, ‘TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ (NAME)/ WHO FELL IN BATTLE 1939/1945’.

The memorial stands within the churchyard of the Church of St Mary in Ashby St Mary, to the left of the south porch of the church.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 20 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 the country. 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 the Church of St Mary in Ashby St Mary as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial at the Church of St Mary was probably erected c1920, and commemorates three local men who fell during the First World War (1914-18), and one local man who fell during the Second World War (1939-45). The war memorial is shown in its current location within the churchyard on the 1928 Ordnance Survey map.

Reasons for Listing

Ashby St Mary war memorial 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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Group value: for its relationship with the Church of St Mary (listed at Grade II*), with which it forms a group.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478403

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)