Summary
First World War memorial obelisk, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial stands in a small walled and gated enclosure on the main road through the village, at the junction of Silver Street and Hornbury Hill, adjacent to the former School House and School (unlisted) and opposite the current village school (unlisted).
The memorial is c3m tall and comprises a simple granite obelisk, square in plan, standing on a three-stepped plinth with a two-stepped base. The main inscription is incised on the front face of the obelisk in black-painted lettering, reading DEDICATED/ TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE/ MEN OF/ MINETY/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES FOR THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ A.D. 1914 – 1919/ ALSO OF/ THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945. On either side of the obelisk is a biblical quotation taken from the Book of Lamentations.
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 erected at Minety 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 first proposal for a memorial was made at a parish council meeting by Councillor Hatton on 15 November 1918. During 1919 a suitable building or structure to be a war memorial was debated locally, whilst public subscriptions were collected. By July of that year it had been resolved to erect a monument, adjacent to the school buildings in the middle of the village.
The land on which the memorial stands was made available by the trustees of the village school. The obelisk was unveiled on 6 March 1920, having been built by Messrs Hughes and Son of Malmesbury. Mrs Gouldsmith unveiled the memorial, which was then dedicated by the vicar, Reverend TA Ludlow-Hewitt. The memorial was later amended to incorporate a reference to those who died during the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Minety War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Silver Street and Hornbury Hill, 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.
Architectural interest:
* A simple yet poignant memorial obelisk in granite.
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
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)