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Summary

Granite memorial to the fallen of World War I.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1443094: Ashreigney War Memorial

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WAR MEMORIAL (World War I to XX - 1914 AD to 2000 AD (Between))

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 2013, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV350786.

'War Meml' marked.

Brine, M. E., 2013, War Memorials (Website). SDV351333.

The neat granite memorial at Ashreigney stands in the village square, protected from passing traffic by small granite blocks and reflector posts. It carries the names of eight men from the parish who were killed in World War I. No men or women from Ashreigney lost their lives in the Second World War.
There is a worn inscription on one face of the granite block which supports the Celtic Cross. It reads:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN EVER BLESSED MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH
WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

Historic England, 2017, Ashreigney War Memorial, The Square, Ashreigney, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV359973.

Ashreigney War Memorial is being assessed for listing as part of Historic England's First
World War Commemoration project.
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 Ashreigney as a
permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost
their lives in the First World War.
In 1924 the parish war memorial committee applied to Torrington District Council for
permission to erect a memorial in the centre of the village. The new memorial cross was
unveiled by the Dean of Exeter in November of that year at a well-attended ecumenical
ceremony. The memorial commemorates 8 local servicemen who died in the First World
War.
Details
The memorial stands in The Square, in close proximity to the Church of St James (Grade
II*-listed) and the Grade II-listed Blacksmith’s Cottage. It takes the form of a c3m tall
wheel-head cross in Cornish granite. The cross rises from a plinth, square on plan, which
stands on a low step. A reversed sword is carved in low relief to the front of the cross. The
memorial is surrounded by 8 low granite posts that used to carry a spiked chain.
The inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN EVER
BLESSED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO

Historic Environment Record, 2017, Ashreigney War Memorial, The Square, Ashreigney, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360096.

Historic England has decided to add Ashreigney War Memorial to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

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

In 1924 the parish war memorial committee applied to Torrington District Council for permission to erect a memorial in the centre of the village. The new memorial cross was unveiled by the Dean of Exeter in November of that year at a well-attended ecumenical ceremony. The memorial commemorates 8 local servicemen who died in the First World War.

The memorial stands in The Square, in close proximity to the Church of St James (Grade II*-listed) and the Grade II-listed Blacksmith’s Cottage. It takes the form of a c3m tall wheel-head cross in Cornish granite. The cross rises from a plinth, square on plan, which stands on a low step. A reversed sword is carved in low relief to the front of the cross. The memorial is surrounded by 8 low granite posts that used to carry a spiked chain.

The inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN EVER BLESSED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (8 NAMES).

Ashreigney War Memorial, which stands in The Square, is recommended for listing 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 sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
Architectural interest: a simple yet poignant memorial cross in the Celtic style;
Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St James and the Grade II-listed Blacksmith’s Cottage.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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