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Summary

Memorial to the fallen of World War I, World War II and the war in Korea.

Location

Protected Status

• Local List: War Memorial in front of the Guildhall
• Listed Building (II) 1448448: Bradninch 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

Bluesky, 2006 - 2007, Bluesky aerial photographs 2006 - 2007 (Aerial Photograph). SDV341189.

Walls, S., 2010, The Materiality of Remembrance: Twentieth Century War Memorials in Devon, BRD01 (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV355902.

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

'War Meml' marked.

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

Bradninch War Memorial, 1914-1918.

Mid Devon District Council, 2014, Mid Devon Local List Register of Heritage Assets - Central, War Memorial in front of the Guildhall, Bradninch (Local List - Register of Heritage Assets). SDV356890.

War Memorial in front of the Guildhall, Bradninch.
Description: The War Memorial is located at the junction of Fore Street, High Street and Mill Way. It is a significant feature in the centre of Bradninch. The cross is made from granite and stands on a stepped stone plinth.

Proximity to designated Heritage Assets:
Grade II listed Guildhall
Grade II K6 Telephone Kiosk

Grid Reference: 299964/103997
Source: Bradninch Conservation Area Appraisal

Mid Devon District Council, 2014, Register of Heritage Assets, War Memorial in front of Guildhall (Local List - Register of Heritage Assets). SDV356889.

War Memorial in front of Guildhall.
Importance: Granite cross and plinth to honour those who have died in recent wars.

Imperial War Museum, 2014, War Memorials Archive, 25488 (Website). SDV356253.

Two-stepped octagonal base surmounted by square tapering plinth, shaft and wheel cross. Inscription one side of the plinth and on the sides of the steps. Whole stands on a raised grass area. Metal crest at base of shaft. Inscriptions: FAITHFUL TO KING AND COUNTRY/ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF BRADNINCH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ "BECAUSE YOU LIVE, THOUGH OUT OF SIGHT &/ REACH, SO HELP ME GOD, GIVE BRAVELY TOO"/ followed by names.
Other side: ALSO OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR 1939 - 1945/ followed by names/ WAR IN KOREA/ one name.

Historic England, 2017, Bradninch War Memorial, The Guildhall, Fore Street, Bradninch, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360254.

Notification that Historic England is currently considering the memorial for listing as part of its First World War Commemoration project and has completed a consultation report setting out the factual information upon which they will base their decision.
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 which meant that the memorials provided the
main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Bradninch as a
permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the district who lost their lives
in the First World War.
Following public meetings held to determine an appropriate war memorial, the decision was
made to erect a monumental cross outside the Guildhall (Grade II-listed). The cross was
unveiled by Brigadier-General D’Arcy Thomas on 22 February 1920, during a well-attended
ecumenical service led by the Vicar, Reverend W Pryke, and Baptist Minister Reverend B
Horlick.
Some 280 men from Hele and Bradninch, including some who had earlier emigrated to
Canada, had served, as well as a number of women who served in both an official capacity as
well as on the Home Front. The memorial commemorates 52 men who died. Following the
Second World War the details of a further 12 men were added, and the name of a soldier who
died in the Korean War is also commemorated.
Details
The tall Dartmoor granite memorial stands in the forecourt of the town Guildhall (Grade
II-listed). It takes the form of a wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, standing on a plinth and
three-stepped octagonal base. The arms of the wheel-head cross are ornamented with
interlace knots and a central hemispherical boss. A small shield bearing the town’s heraldic
device, a spread eagle, decorates the foot of the cross shaft.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the tapering plinth reads FAITHFUL TO
KING AND COUNTRY./ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF BRADNINCH/
WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919./ "BECAUSE YOU
LIVE, THOUGH OUT OF SIGHT, AND REACH,/ I WILL, SO HELP ME GOD, GIVE
BRAVELY TOO". The commemorated First World War names are listed on the plinth sides.
A later dedication on the front face of the uppermost step reads ALSO OF THOSE/ WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR 1939 - 1945/ with the Second World War names recorded
on other faces of this step. Below, on the front face of the middle step, an inscription reads
WAR IN KOREA/ (1 NAME).

Historic England, 2017, Bradninch War Memorial, The Guildhall, Fore Street, Bradninch, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360442.

Notification that the war memorial has been added to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

Historic England, 2017, National Heritage List for England, 1448448 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

Bradninch War Memorial
Summary of Building
First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with additions for later conflicts.
Reasons for Designation
Bradninch War Memorial, which stands in front of the Guildhall, 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: An imposing granite wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, including well-executed interlace carving;
* Group value: With the Guildhall (Grade II) and a number of other Grade II-listed buildings in the environs.
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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Bradninch as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the district who lost their lives in the First World War.
Following public meetings held to determine an appropriate war memorial, the decision was made to erect a monumental cross outside the Guildhall (Grade II-listed). The cross was unveiled by Brigadier-General D’Arcy Thomas on 22 February 1920, during a well-attended ecumenical service led by the Vicar, Reverend W Pryke, and Baptist Minister Reverend B Horlick.
Some 280 men from Hele and Bradninch, including some who had earlier emigrated to Canada, had served, as well as a number of women who served in both an official capacity as well as on the Home Front. The memorial commemorates 52 men who died. Following the Second World War the details of a further 12 men were added, and the name of a soldier who died in the Korean War is also commemorated.
Details
The tall Dartmoor granite memorial stands in the forecourt of the town Guildhall (Grade II-listed). It takes the form of a wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, standing on a plinth and three-stepped octagonal base. The arms of the wheel-head cross are ornamented with interlace knots and a central hemispherical boss. A small shield bearing the town’s heraldic device, a spread eagle, decorates the foot of the cross shaft.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the tapering plinth reads: FAITHFUL TO KING AND COUNTRY./ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF BRADNINCH/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919./ "BECAUSE YOU LIVE, THOUGH OUT OF SIGHT, AND REACH,/ I WILL, SO HELP ME GOD, GIVE BRAVELY TOO". The commemorated First World War names are listed on the plinth sides.
A later dedication on the front face of the uppermost step reads: ALSO OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR 1939 - 1945, with the Second World War names recorded on other faces of this step. Below, on the front face of the middle step, an inscription reads: WAR IN KOREA/ (1 NAME).
Date first listed: 3rd August 2017

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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