Summary
War memorial. Erected 1921. Newbury Abbot Trent, sculptor.
Reasons for Designation
Beckenham War Memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by this community in both World Wars, and subsequent conflicts, it is of strong historic and cultural significance both at a local and a national level
* Artistic interest: it is an elegantly detailed monument with bas-relief carvings by a notable sculptor
History
Beckenham War Memorial was unveiled on 24 July 1921 by former army sergeant, Bert Hanscombe, a council employed dustman, and one of 9 brothers who fought in, and survived, the First World War.
Details
The memorial is in Portland stone, c7.5m high, and takes the form of a tall column, rectangular in section, on a two-tier base, surmounted by a stylised in-filled Celtic cross. There are bas-relief carvings on both faces of the cross. To the north, the carving depicts a mounted St George slaying the dragon, and on the south face the carving depicts the phoenix rising from the ashes, with the word IMMORTALITY spelled out in bronze letters above. The north face of the column bears the following inscription in applied bronze lettering:
End of official list entry
