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Spreyton War Memorial

Church of St Michael, Spreyton, Devon, EX17 5AL

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

Overview

A war memorial cross of around 1920 or 1921 date, constructed of rough-hewn granite. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1463733
Date first listed:: 05-Jun-2019
List Entry Name:: Spreyton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church of St Michael, Spreyton, Devon, EX17 5AL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1463733
Date first listed:: 05-Jun-2019
List Entry Name:: Spreyton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Church of St Michael, Spreyton, Devon, EX17 5AL

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:: Church of St Michael, Spreyton, Devon, EX17 5AL

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

County:: Devon
District:: West Devon (District Authority)
Parish:: Spreyton
National Grid Reference:: SX6979696766

Summary

A war memorial cross of around 1920 or 1921 date, constructed of rough-hewn granite.

Reasons for Designation

Spreyton War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* it is 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:

* it is a well-crafted war memorial in the form of a granite Latin cross.

Group value:

* it has group value with the Grade II listed Church of St Michael, and tombs and headstones in the churchyard (also listed at Grade II).

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

One such memorial was raised at Spreyton 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 supplied by Mr JT Miller of Okehampton. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 9 January 1921 by the Right Honourable George Lambert MP, parishioner of Spreyton.

The memorial stands in a prominent position beside the entrance to the churchyard, close to the Church of St Michael (Grade II) and within the same churchyard as several tomb chests, headstones and memorials (Grade II).

Details

A war memorial of around 1920 or 1921 date.

MATERIALS: constructed of Devon granite.

DESCRIPTION: comprising a rough-hewn Latin cross with a tapering square shaft with a three-stepped base. The main inscription in leaded lettering on the middle step of the base reads: IN MEMORY OF THE HEROIC DEAD, WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919./ THEIR NAMES ARE INSCRIBED IN THE CHURCH.

Sources

Websites
UK National Inventory of War Memorials - Spreyton, accessed 25 March 2019 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/26061
War Memorials Online - Spreyton, accessed 25 March 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/210077/
Other
‘Spreyton’s Warriors’, Western Times, Friday 14 January 1921

Legal

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