An historic war memorial in Highbridge commemorating the lives of dozens of local railway workers who died in World War 1 has been given Grade II listed status this week.
The Secretary of State has announced the status for the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway War Memorial which is located in Highbridge’s Garden of Remembrance in Southwell Gardens, pictured here.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, Pam Lyes, the secretary of Highbridge War Memorial Trust, said: “We’re all very pleased with this news – it’s lovely for the memorial and Highbridge to be recognised in this way.”
“Highbridge is often forgotten so it’s wonderful to see an important part of our town’s history being remembered by the Government with this listed status.”
The memorial was unveiled in March 1922 to commemorate the S&D line staff who died in WW1 and was moved to its current location in 1965 after being salvaged from the S&D station when it closed down.
The wording on the memorial states: “This tablet is erected by their fellow workers in memory of the men who left the loco carriage and wagon department of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway to serve with the forces during the great war.”
The Grade II listed status will also enable those that maintain it to access additional funds to help with its upkeep.
