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Summary

Granite cross commemorating the fallen of World War I.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1449446: Dean Prior War Memorial

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• WAR MEMORIAL (World War I to XX - 1914 AD to 1921 AD (Between))

Full description

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

Map object based on this source.

Walls, S., 2010, The Materiality of Remembrance: Twentieth Century War Memorials in Devon, 122, 186, 206; Figure 5.57; DEP01 (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV355902.

The Dean Prior memorial cross dates to shortly after the First World War, and the use of 'World War' can be seen to suggest that the inscription upon the memorial may have been added after 1945. The term 'World War' only occurs on six First World War memorials in the South Hams. The memorial does not include the names, with a roll of honour frame (circa 1918) retained opposite the church's entrance.

Google, 2013, Google Streetview (Website). SDV350787.

Map object based on this source.

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

Dean Prior War Memorial 1914 - 1918.
Brine's photo shows a granite cross on a stepped pedestal.

Historic England, 2017, Dean Prior War Memorial, The churchyard, St George's Church, Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360311.

Historic England is currently considering whether the war memorial has special architectural or historic interest. They have completed a consultation report which sets out the factual information of the site 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 Dean Prior as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made
by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Thirty-five
men had served, of whom three (two soldiers and one sailor) had died. The memorial cross
commemorating their names was unveiled on 23 January 1921 by Colonel Downing DSO. It
had been designed by Mr H Read of Exeter.
Details
The c3m tall granite cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St George (Grade I),
immediately to the south of the lych gate and facing onto the A38. It comprises a Latin cross,
octagonal in section, with slightly splayed cross arms. The cross rises from a shouldered
pedestal, square on plan. The pedestal stands on a two-stepped octagonal base.
The principal dedicatory inscription is incised into the front face of the pedestal. Highly
weathered at the time of writing (2017), this is reported as reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/
AND HONOUR OF THOSE WHO WENT/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL/ IN
THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 18. The three commemorated names are recorded on the base.

Historic England, 2017, Dean Prior War Memorial, The Churchyard, St George's Church, Dean Prior, Buckfastleigh, Devon (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360477.

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, 1449446 (National Heritage List for England). SDV359963.

Dean Prior War Memorial.
Summary of Building
First World War memorial, unveiled 1921.
Reasons for Designation
Dean Prior War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St George, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War. Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant memorial cross in granite; * unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St George (Grade I), and adjacent Grade II-listed structures including the Old Parsonage and churchyard monuments.
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 Dean Prior as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Thirty-five men had served, of whom three (two soldiers and one sailor) had died. The memorial cross commemorating their names was unveiled on 23 January 1921 by Colonel Downing DSO. It had been designed by Mr H Read of Exeter.
Details
The c3m tall granite cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St George (Grade I), immediately to the south of the lych gate and facing onto the A38. It comprises a Latin cross, octagonal in section, with slightly splayed cross arms. The cross rises from a shouldered pedestal, square on plan. The pedestal stands on a two-stepped octagonal base.
The principal dedicatory inscription is incised into the front face of the pedestal. Highly weathered at the time of writing (2017), this is reported as reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND HONOUR OF THOSE WHO WENT/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 18. The three commemorated names are recorded on the base.
Date first listed: 18th October 2017

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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