South Benfleet War Memorial
SOUTH BENFLEET WAR MEMORIAL, ESSEX WAY
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392466
- Date first listed:
- 28-Feb-2008
- List Entry Name:
- South Benfleet War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- SOUTH BENFLEET WAR MEMORIAL, ESSEX WAY
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1392466
- Date first listed:
- 28-Feb-2008
- List Entry Name:
- South Benfleet War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- SOUTH BENFLEET WAR MEMORIAL, ESSEX WAY
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:
- SOUTH BENFLEET WAR MEMORIAL, ESSEX WAY
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Castle Point (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 77878 86089
Reasons for Designation
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION South Benfleet War Memorial is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * It is a poignant reminder of the impact of the First and Second World Wars on the local community * The design by Sir Charles Nicholson and carving by Percy Delf Smith is simple yet elegant * It has Group Value with the adjacent Church of St Mary and churchyard monuments
Details
1658/0/10028 ESSEX WAY
28-FEB-08 South Benfleet War Memorial
GV II
War memorial, 1920, designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and carved by Percy Delf Smith.
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
EXTERIOR: A moulded cross on a tapering square shaft set on a square plinth with cut-away corners and inscriptions on four sides. The plinth is set on a stepped square base.
INSCRIPTIONS: The memorial is inscribed on the west face: 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS IN/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1919'. The north and south faces are inscribed with the names of the fallen. The east face is inscribed: 'ALSO/ DEDICATED TO/ THE MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME/ SACRIFICE IN/ WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945'.
HISTORY: The memorial was erected by public subscription to commemorate the men of South Benfleet who were killed in the First World War. A dedication to the fallen of the Second World War was added later. The memorial was designed in 1919 by the architect Sir Charles Nicholson (1867-1949) whose works include several churches nationwide and the War Memorial Chapel at Rugby School, Warwickshire (1922, Grade II*). Nicholson also designed the painted reredos and chancel screen in the Church of St Mary, South Benfleet. The war memorial was carved by Percy Delf Smith (1882-1948), a typographical designer known for the fonts he developed for London Underground. He was Master of the Art Workers Guild and a Royal Designer for Industry. The memorial was unveiled on 30 May 1920 by Colonel C W Collingwood.
SOURCES:
United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials, record no. 22173.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION:
South Benfleet War Memorial is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* It is a poignant reminder of the impact of the First and Second World Wars on the local community
* The design by Sir Charles Nicholson and carving by Percy Delf Smith is simple yet elegant
* It has Group Value with the adjacent Church of St Mary and churchyard monuments
TQ7787886089
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 12 January 2017.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 502928
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/22173
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/101919
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 08-Jun-2026 at 15:28:50.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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