A war memorial in Bembridge is among hundreds to be listed over the last year through Historic England’s pledge to protect 2,500 memorials by 2018, marking the centenary of the First World War.
Bembridge war memorial has been listed as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the 20th Century. The memorial is a dignified and well-crafted example of a popular form of war memorial by local architect Percy Goddard Stone (1856-1934) who designed a number of other war memorials on the Island.
Built by communities in the years following the conflict, war memorials are a poignant, physical reminder of the sacrifices and loss the First World War brought about. 100 years on, it is time to come together again to ensure our memorials are in good condition, and properly recognised by listing where appropriate.
Roger Bowdler, Director of Listing at Historic England, said:
“Researching, recording and recommending up to 2,500 more war memorials for listing over the next five years is a major task but one that Historic England is proud to undertake. These memorials will gain a place on the National Heritage List for England to tell the story of this country’s sacrifice and struggle.”
Historic England has pledged to list a total of 2,500 war memorials over the centenary of the First World War as part of a wider partnership the organisation has forged with War Memorials Trust, Civic Voice and the Imperial War Museums to help communities discover, care for and conserve their local war memorials. Working with enthusiastic volunteers across the country, the programme is providing up to £2million in grants for war memorial repair and conservation and hundreds of workshops to teach people how to record their memorials and put them forward for listing.
For more information on listing a memorial visit www.historicengland.org.uk/listingwarmemorials and for grants www.warmemorialstrust.org/grants.
