Maidstone Borough War Memorial

Tonbridge Road, Maidstone

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Overview

First World War memorial by Sir George James Frampton RA (1860-1928), with dates added for the Second World War and inscription remembering later conflicts, unveiled 21 June 1922. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1401312
Date first listed:: 09-Jun-2011
List Entry Name:: Maidstone Borough War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Tonbridge Road, Maidstone

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1401312
Date first listed:: 09-Jun-2011
List Entry Name:: Maidstone Borough War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Tonbridge Road, Maidstone

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Tonbridge Road, Maidstone

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Kent
District:: Maidstone (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ7558655469

Summary

First World War memorial by Sir George James Frampton RA (1860-1928), with dates added for the Second World War and inscription remembering later conflicts, unveiled 21 June 1922.

Reasons for Designation

Maidstone Borough war memorial, by Sir George Frampton, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by this community in the First and Second World Wars (and later conflicts), it is of strong historic and cultural significance both at a local and a national level. * Artistic interest: by a sculptor of considerable renown, it is a handsome and fitting commemorative monument of high artistic quality.

History

Maidstone Borough war memorial was erected to honour the servicemen of Maidstone who fell during the First World War. The memorial was unveiled by Lt Col FSW Cornwallis.

Sir George Frampton studied at the Royal Academy Schools, London, and in Paris, and received many awards and honours throughout his career. Perhaps his best-known work is the statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Greater London, 1920 (listed Grade II*).

Details

MATERIALS: Limestone plinth and base with bronze figure.

The memorial stands at the fork of two main roads which lead out of Maidstone to the west. It takes the form of a bronze statue of St George and the slain dragon on a tall cenotaph-like limestone plinth and base. The memorial is surrounded by a low stone wall. St George stands in full armour with the dragon at his feet, his left foot resting on its body. He holds an erect lance in his right hand, from which flies a pennon. In his left hand he holds a shaped shield, the bottom of which is also resting on the dragon's body.

The front face of the memorial bears the inscription: IN HONOUR OF / OUR GLORIOUS DEAD / WHO / GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN / THE GREAT WAR / FOR EVER HONOURED / AND / FOR EVER MOURNED / 1914 1918 / 1939 1945 / AND / IN LATER CONFLICTS

There is a further short inscription to the rear. To either side of the plinth a wreath is carved in relief.

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, 30 November 2016.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 30/11/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/161219
War Memorials Register, accessed 30/11/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/918

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.