Dorking War Memorial
Dorking War Memorial, South Street
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392420
- Date first listed:
- 27-Feb-2008
- List Entry Name:
- Dorking War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Dorking War Memorial, South Street
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392420
- Date first listed:
- 27-Feb-2008
- List Entry Name:
- Dorking War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Dorking War Memorial, South Street
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Dorking War Memorial, South Street
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Surrey
- District:
- Mole Valley (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 16408 49257
Reasons for Designation
Dorking War Memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* It is an eloquent witness to the impact of the two World Wars on the town and its residents.
* Its imposing classical design provides a dignified and solemn setting for the names of those who died in the Great War.
* It is a moving reminder of the considerable numbers of lives lost in both world wars, but particularly in the Great War.
Details
850/0/10042
SOUTH STREET
Dorking War Memorial
27-FEB-08
GV
II
War Memorial, erected in 1921, extended after 1945. Designed by Thomas Braddock. Portland stone ashlar.
The memorial is on a raised platform set against a wall retaining an upper road. It takes the form of an aedicule, with plain pilasters, a moulded cornice and triangular pediment with central cartouche. Three slightly recessed panels are inscribed with the names of the fallen, above which in large capital letters are engraved the words "IN MEMORY OF DORKING MEN WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR". The plinth bears a smaller inscription: "They were a wall unto us both by night and by day 1 Sam XXV 16". The pilasters each have roundels bearing the dates 1914 and 1919.
Attached to either side of the main 1914-1919 memorial are low splayed projections in the form of pedestals, the inner-facing panels of which display the names of those who died in the Second World War. At the end of each respectively are the dates 1939 and 1945, each circled by a wreath. There are two flagpoles attached to the retaining wall on either side of the earlier memorial, which are part of the original design.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The spotlights attached above the cornice are modern additions and not of special architectural or historical interest.
HISTORY: The war memorial was unveiled in 1921 to commemorate the men of Dorking who had lost their lives in the Great War. An inscription records that the architect was Thomas Braddock, who had won a competition to design the memorial. Braddock, MP for Mitcham between 1945 and 1950, is better known for his political career, although he was also part of the team that designed cinemas in London for the Odeon chain, including Leicester Square.
The memorial originally seems to have incorporated a bandstand, iron railings and wooden seating. During the Second World War the railings were taken for the war effort, and after the war the seating was removed and two low walls added to either side of the memorial: these commemorate the dead of the Second World War. The two flanking flagpoles, originally rising from near the base of the memorial on the retaining wall, were moved to a higher position to accommodate these extensions. Later additions include three spot lights attached above the cornice.
SOURCES: Biographical information on Thomas Braddock from the Dictionary of Scottish Architects (www.scottisharchitects.org.uk).
REASON FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: Dorking War Memorial is listed for the following principal reasons:
* It is an eloquent witness to the impact of the two World Wars on the town and its residents.
* Its imposing classical design in high-quality Portland stone ashlar provides a dignified and solemn setting for the names of those who died in the Great War.
* It is a moving reminder of the considerable numbers of lives lost in both world wars, but particularly in the Great War.
TQ1640849257
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 5 December 2016.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 504373
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 05/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23387
War Memorials Online, accessed 05/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/162784
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 12:38:01.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.