Summary

First World War memorial, of 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

First World War memorial, of 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: constructed from grey granite.

PLAN: the memorial stands at the junction of Fore Street and Erme Road, facing south.

DESCRIPTION: a Latin cross rising from a slim pedestal, set at the centre of a curved screen wall. The screen has recessed panels bearing inscriptions, and a pedimented pier at either end.

The pedestal, inscribed with applied lead lettering, reads ‘IN HONOUR / OF THE MEN OF IVYBRIDGE / WHO MADE THE / SUPREME SACRIFICE / FOR THEIR / COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 1918’. The names of the 44 fallen from the First World War are recorded on the recessed panels on the wall of the memorial. The south faces of both piers list thirteen names each, under the dedication ‘1939-1945’.

The memorial stands on a paved area with a dwarf post and chain fence.

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 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 Ivybridge as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 44 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

When a First World War memorial tablet was installed in Ivybridge Parish Church at the beginning of June 1920 plans were already being considered to erect a town war memorial in a central location. The unveiling of Ivybridge’s war memorial took place on 24 September 1922 and was carried out by Colonel FB Mildmay.

In 1935, Ivybridge Urban Council discussed ways to prevent “irreverent treatment” of the war memorial; it is presumed that the chains, suspended from shaped posts, were added at that time. Following the end of the Second World War, the pillars at either side of the memorial were re-faced and the names of 26 fallen from that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Ivybridge War Memorial, 1922, 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:

* an elegant monument built in durable granite, which is unaltered, and continues to reflect the sentiments of the community by whom it was erected.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q75611719

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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