Lidgate War Memorial

St Mary's Churchyard, Lidgate, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, CB8 9PT

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Overview

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later addition for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1466711
Date first listed:: 31-Oct-2019
List Entry Name:: Lidgate War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Mary's Churchyard, Lidgate, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, CB8 9PT

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1466711
Date first listed:: 31-Oct-2019
List Entry Name:: Lidgate War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Mary's Churchyard, Lidgate, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, CB8 9PT

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 Mary's Churchyard, Lidgate, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk, CB8 9PT

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: West Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Lidgate
National Grid Reference:: TL7208258121

Summary

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later addition for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Lidgate War Memorial, which was erected in 1921, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a well-executed Maltese cross with carved detailing.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade II*) and the scheduled monument of Lidgate Castle and manorial complex.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities 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 Lidgate as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by AH Hanchet, monumental mason, of Bury St Edmunds who erected a number of war memorials in the Suffolk area. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 9 January 1921 by Lieutenant-Colonel AH Catchpole, attended by local clergy and dignitaries.

The names of the fallen from the Second World War were added in 2019

Details

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with later addition for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION The memorial stands in a prominent position in the churchyard. It is carved from stone and comprises a Maltese cross-head and tapering shaft set upon a square, outswept, two-stage plinth and a single-stepped base. The centre of the cross contains a relief carving of a wreath with the initials IHS at its centre; all the faces have raised edging.

The dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth and reads: 1914 – 1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914 – 1918/ SONS OF THIS PLACE, LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID,/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE, ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD,/ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES, THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST, ERE YOU FALL ASLEEP

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum Register, Lidgate – WW1, accessed 3 September 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5234
Lidgate Remembers, Lidgate War Memorial, accessed 3 September 2019 from http://www.undyingmemory.net/Lidgate/lidgate%20memorial.html
War Memorials Online, Lidgate – WW1, accessed 3 September 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/117467

Legal

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