Memorial details

Memorial type
Obelisk
District
South Somerset
Town
Stoke sub Hamdon
County
Somerset
Country
England
Commemoration
Second World War (1939-1945), First World War (1914-1918), Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998)
Maker
Ham Hill and Doulting Stone Company (Makers)
Mr W. Bussell of Montacute (Designer)
Ceremony
  • Unknown
    Date: 19 July 1923
    Attended by: HRH Prince of Wales KG laid a bronze laurel wreath at the foot of the memorial (to whose column it was later fixed).
  • Unveiled
    Date: 26 September 1920
    Attended by: Reverend E. Skilton
  • Dedicated
    Date: 26 September 1920
    Attended by: Reverend E. Skilton performed the service. Those present included relatives of the Fallen, and villagers
  • Show More (2)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
1358

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Current location

Hill top (off Ham Hill Road)
overlooking village.
Ham Hill Country Park
off Ham Hill Road
Stoke sub Hamdon
South Somerset
Somerset
TA14 6PR
England

OS Grid Ref: ST 47708 17313
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
The elegantly simple memorial is visible from three counties. Made from locally-quarried stone, it stands on the north-west corner of Ham Hill, overlooking the village of Stoke-sub-Hamdon, whose former residents it commemorates. On the base of three square steps stand the cuboid plinth, cornice and obelisk (which has a bronze wreath attached to its north face). Each of the four faces of the plinth has a recessed panel, which collectively bear the inscription and names re First World War casualties. The north side of the plinth (facing the village) has the World War 1 dedicatory inscription, along with two bronze plaques: the larger of the two bears the inscription and names re World War 2 casualties; the smaller bears the inscription re a villager killed on active service in Northern Ireland in 1988. (N.B. The village has at times been know/recorded variously as Stoke-cum-Hamdon, Stoke-under-Ham, Stoke-under-Hamdon, but its correct title is Stoke-sub-Hamdon).
Inscription
North face plinth (inset panel): OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ 1914-1919 North face plinth plaque 1: 1939-1945/ (names) North face plinth plaque 2: IRELAND 1988/ (name) North face obelisk: THE BRONZE WREATH ABOVE WAS/ PLACED ON THIS MEMORIAL/ ON BEHALF OF THE EX-SERVICEMEN/ AND PEOPLE OF STOKE/ IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN/ BY H.R.H. EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES K.G./ DUKE OF CORNWALL/ AND LORD OF THE MANOR OF STOKE/ ON 19TH JULY 1923 East and South faces of plinth: (WW1 names) West face of plinth: (WW1 names)/ ERECTED BY/ THE PEOPLE OF/ STOKE UNDER HAM
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Boon, Frank
Brooks, Horace
Bullock, Peter Lloyd
Callow, C. C.
Clarke, Bert
Denman, George
Drew, Walter
Eglon, William
Gaylard, Benjamin
Gilman, Edward
See details for all 52 names
Commemorations
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 7
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 7
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Rank, initials, surname, military unit
    Order of information: Alphabetical by surname
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 44
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 44
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Rank forename, surname, decoration, military unit
    Order of information: Alphabetically by surname
  • Northern Ireland Conflict; The Troubles (1969-1998)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Place and year of death, rank, full name, Regiment
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Memorial
    Measurements: height c8000mm, width c5000mm
    Materials: Stone - Ham
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
Listing information
  • HAMDON HILL WAR MEMORIAL
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
Date unknown: letters repainted On 20/6/1924 the Western Chronicle reported that the Ham Hill Stone Company's quote to repair the memorial and to fit a lightning conductor to it had been accepted, and that work was to commence. On 30/5/1924 the Western Chronicle reported that Stoke sub Hamdon Parish Council had met to discuss repairs needed to the memorial, following damage it had recently sustained when struck by lightning. 19/7/1923 HRH Edward, Prince of Wales ceremonially laid a bronze wreath at the foot of the memorial; it was later mounted on the north face of the column, and a carved inscription was added to that effect. Memorial unveiled/dedicated 26th September 1920.
Costs

Comments: The cost of the memorial was raised by public subscription and donations. (On 17/12/1920 the Western Chronicle reported that £35 toward the cost had recently been raised by auctioning furniture etc that had been donated by villagers, and that the full sum of £400 had now almost been raised).
Memorial: £400

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Responsibility
Parish Council
Reference
  • War Memorials Online ref WMO 166808
  • Western Chronicle 1/10/1920 (page 7): reported the unveiling ceremony at length
  • Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 25/7/1923 (page 4): lengthy report of The Prince of Wales' visit to the area, during which he ceremonially laid a bronze wreath at the foot of the Hamdon Hill memorial (a small replica of which was presented to him by the Hamdon Quarry, from which the stone had been drawn).
  • Historic England ref 1241897

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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