Summary
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The granite war memorial stands on The Court Ledge, about 40m to the west of the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*-listed). It takes the form of a plain obelisk, square on plan, rising from a chamfered pedestal. The pedestal stands on a two-stepped granite base, which is raised on a square concrete platform.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF LODDISWELL WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (18 NAMES). The later inscription, on a side face of the pedestal, reads AND TO THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES DURING THE/ WAR 1939 – 1945./ (10 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, 22 November 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 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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Loddiswell 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 obelisk on The Court Ledge commemorates 18 local servicemen who died in the conflict. Following the Second World War 10 names were added, including Olivia Willing, a Staff Nurse who died at City Hospital, Plymouth, aged 19, in the 20/21 March 1941 air-raid.
Reasons for Listing
Loddiswell War Memorial, which stands on The Court Ledge, 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 made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant war memorial obelisk in the Classical style.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Michael and All Angels (Grade II*-listed).
External Links
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
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
For the Record
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)