Memorial Title

Pte R Spencer

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a WW1 war memorial to Pte Robert Spencer comprising an addition to a gravestone at the Church of St Oswald, Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

Images

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Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location:
Graveyard
Church of St Oswald
Mayfield Rd
Ashbourne
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
DE6 1AN

NGR:
SK 17532 46341
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
The church is on the south side of the road. The gravestone is near the extreme southwestern corner of the graveyard.

Type

Overall type: Addition to gravestone

Overall condition: At risk. Although the headstone was in fair condition and the inscription was legible, it was considered to be at risk as it is in a totally unkempt area of the graveyard and was in danger of being completely overgrown, as many adjacent gravestones already were.

Description:

An addition to the wording on a family gravestone. The limestone headstone has a pointed arch top with a hollowed chamfer margin and an inlaid inscription in upright capital block lettering. The headstone is accompanied by oblong limestone kerbs almost completely overgrown and buried by vegetation.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Headstone	Limestone	1150	620	60	Fair but at risk.
Kerbs	Limestone	c80	c770	c1800	Fair but at risk.
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

In
LOVING MEMORY OF
ELLEN
THE BELOVED CHILD OF
JOSEPH FREDERIC
AND LOUISA SPENCER,
DIED AUGUST 15, 1905,
AGED 19 MONTHS.
IN THE KINGDOM OF THY GRACE,
GIVE A LITTLE CHILD A PLACE.
ALSO OF THEIR ELDEST SON
4511 PTE. ROBERT SPENCER,
6TH. SHERWOOD FORESTERS
DIED OF WOUNDS & BURIED IN FRANCE
SEPTEMBER 21, 1916,
AGED 18 YEARS.
IN HONOUR'S CAUSE.
ALSO OF
LOUISA WHITTLE
DIED OCTOBER 20, [1939]
AGED 63 [YEARS]

[Some lettering obscured by vegetation.]

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	First World War (1914-1919)	Totals
Action or event	Not stated
Number died	1	1
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	1	1

Administration

Custodian: Presumed to be the Spencer family.

Local authorities:
From WW2: Ashbourne Parish Council; Ashbourne Urban District Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Ashbourne Town Council; Derbyshire Dales District Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

November 1968: The Ashbourne Conservation area was first designated. the memorial lies within it.

11th September, 2019: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot. Although the headstone was in fair condition and the inscription was legible, it was considered to be at risk as it is in a totally unkempt area of the graveyard and was in danger of being completely overgrown, as many adjacent gravestones already were.

References

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