Hessett War Memorial

St Ethelbert's Churchyard, The Street, Hessett, Suffolk, IP30 9AX

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Cross war memorial, 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464647
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Hessett War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Ethelbert's Churchyard, The Street, Hessett, Suffolk, IP30 9AX

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1464647
Date first listed:: 07-Aug-2019
List Entry Name:: Hessett War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Ethelbert's Churchyard, The Street, Hessett, Suffolk, IP30 9AX

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: St Ethelbert's Churchyard, The Street, Hessett, Suffolk, IP30 9AX

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Suffolk
District:: Mid Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Hessett
National Grid Reference:: TL9366561841

Summary

Cross war memorial, 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Hessett War Memorial, 1920, 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 well-executed example of a cross memorial which survives well.

Group value:

* aligned with the tower of the Grade I-listed Church of St Ethelbert, and part of an ensemble of listed churchyard structures.

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: memorials, therefore, provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Hessett 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 memorial was carved by AH Hanchet and Son, stonemasons, of Bury St Edmunds. It was unveiled on 3 October 1920 by General AL Schreiber and was restored and rededicated in November 2015.

Details

Cross war memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: constructed from Portland stone.

PLAN: the memorial stands in St Ethelbert’s churchyard, approximately 10m west of the tower, in line with the axis of the church.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a cross with a tapering shaft on a rectangular plinth and a single-stepped base. The cross has a central circular boss containing a relief-moulded laurel wreath enclosing the monogram IHS.

The main inscription is on the west face of the shaft, in incised and painted lettering. It reads: RIP / 1914 / (NAME) / 1915 / (NAMES) / 1916 / (NAMES) /1917 / (NAMES) /1918 (NAMES), and on the plinth: IN PROUD AND AFFECTIONATE / REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN / OF HESSETT / WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR.

Sources

Websites
'Hessett War Memorial - WWI', War Memorials Register, Imperial War Museums, accessed 20 May 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4775
Other
‘Hessett’s Memorial Cross Unveiled’, Bury Free Press, 9 October 1920

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.