Long Ditton Memorial Cross

Long Ditton Memorial Cross, Memorial Garden at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, Long Ditton, Surrey, KT6 5EN

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Overview

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1426583
Date first listed:: 09-Jun-2015
List Entry Name:: Long Ditton Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: Long Ditton Memorial Cross, Memorial Garden at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, Long Ditton, Surrey, KT6 5EN

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1426583
Date first listed:: 09-Jun-2015
List Entry Name:: Long Ditton Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: Long Ditton Memorial Cross, Memorial Garden at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, Long Ditton, Surrey, KT6 5EN

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:: Long Ditton Memorial Cross, Memorial Garden at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, Long Ditton, Surrey, KT6 5EN

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

County:: Surrey
District:: Elmbridge (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ1735366076

Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Long Ditton Memorial Cross, which stands at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of C20.

History

Long Ditton Memorial Cross is dedicated to the 74 men from the village who lost their lives during the First World War. A further dedication was added to the steps of the memorial, commemorating those who lost their lives during the Second World War.

Details

The war memorial, approximately 5m tall, is constructed entirely of stone. It consists of an ornate wheel-head cross decorated with floral carvings, with a rose at the cross axis. The cross is set on an octagonal shaft that is raised on an octagonal plinth which features a moulded base.

The inscription carved on the main face of the plinth reads THE/ MEN OF LONG DITTON/ WHOM THIS CROSS/ COMMEMORATES LEFT AT/ THE CALL OF KING AND/ COUNTRY ALL THAT/ WAS DEAR TO THEM/ ENDURED HARDNESS/ FACED DANGER AND/ FINALLY PASSED OUT/ OF THE SIGHT OF MEN/ BY THE PATH OF DUTY/ AND SELF-SACRIFICE/ GIVING UP THEIR OWN/ LIVES THAT OTHERS/ MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM.

The other sides of the plinth bear dates and lists of names. The plinth stands on an octagonal three-stepped base. An incised dedication on the upper step of the base reads LET THOSE WHO LIVE AFTER SEE TO IT/ THAT THEIR NAMES NOT BE FORGOTTEN, and on the middle step THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LONG DITTON WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945.

The memorial stands in a paved area within a small memorial garden. The garden is defined by a low brick wall and a chain carried on wooden posts.

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.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 05/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/179532
War Memorials Register, accessed 05/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23365

Legal

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