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Summary

Memorial to the fallen of both World Wars. Restored in 2011.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1452591: Hatherleigh War Memorial, The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Market Street, Hatherleigh, Okehampton
• Listed Building (II) 1452591: Hatherleigh War Memorial, The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Market Street, Hatherleigh, Okehampton

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.

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

Walls, S., 2010, The Materiality of Remembrance: Twentieth Century War Memorials in Devon, 331; Figure 7.18; HAT01 (Post-Graduate Thesis). SDV355902.

The appending of names onto existing war memorials can take a variety of forms. The majority of external war memorials simply have the dates and names appended onto another side of the memorial, or as at Hatherleigh, onto a lower step.

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

'War Meml' marked.

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

Memorial to the fallen of both World Wars. Completely restored in 2011.

Imperial War Museum, 2014, War Memorials Archive, 26020 (Website). SDV356253.

Concrete base surmounted by three steps, square plinth, tapering shaft and wheel cross. Inscription in black lettering on three sides of the plinth and on one side of the top two steps.
On one side of the plinth: TO THE/ HONOURED MEMORY OF THE/ BRAVE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR,/ 1914 - 1918./ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/ THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
On the top step: TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ followed by 7 names on the lower step.
On two other sides of the plinth are the 27 names of those who died in World War I

Historic England, 2017, Hatherleigh War Memorial, The churchyard, St John the Baptist Church, Market Street, Hatherleigh, Okehampton (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360591.

Historic England is currently considering the memorial for listing as part of their First World War Commemoration project. 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 Hatherleigh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice
made by 27 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The
cross was designed by local architect, Mr S Hooper, and was unveiled in 1921 by Major
Arnold. Following the Second World War the names of seven local servicemen who died in
that conflict were added to the memorial. The memorial was restored in 2011.
Details
The tall granite memorial stands in the churchyard, to the south of the Church of St John the
Baptist (Grade I) and in close proximity to a number of Grade II-listed buildings and
churchyard monuments. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross standing on a large plinth,
square on plan. The plinth is raised on a three-stepped base, standing on a large concrete
foundation.
The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE/ HONOURED
MEMORY OF THE/ BRAVE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO/ LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN
THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/ THIS THAT A
MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. The commemorated First World War
names are listed to either side of the plinth.
The later Second World War dedication is inscribed on the front face of the upper step of the
base, reading TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE WORLD
WAR/ 1939 – 1945, with the seven names recorded below on the middle step.

Historic England, 2018, Hatherleigh War Memorial, The churchyard, Church of St John the Baptist, Market Street, Hatherleigh, Okehampton (List of Blds of Arch or Historic Interest). SDV360806.

Historic England have completed the assessment of the memorial. Having considered our recommendation, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Hatherleigh War Memorial to the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
Hatherleigh War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20. Architectural interest:
* an imposing granite memorial wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:
* with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade I), churchyard monuments listed at Grade II, and numerous Grade II-listed buildings on Market Place.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments: none recorded

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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