Banbury War Memorial in The People's Park

The People's Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 0AH

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1922, 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:: 1429143
Date first listed:: 23-Sep-2015
List Entry Name:: Banbury War Memorial in The People's Park
Statutory Address:: The People's Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 0AH

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1429143
Date first listed:: 23-Sep-2015
List Entry Name:: Banbury War Memorial in The People's Park
Statutory Address 1:: The People's Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 0AH

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:: The People's Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 0AH

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

County:: Oxfordshire
District:: Cherwell (District Authority)
Parish:: Banbury
National Grid Reference:: SP4518840569

Summary

First World War memorial, 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Banbury War Memorial, situated in The People’s Park, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic Interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Design interest: a substantial and well-proportioned Celtic cross.

History

Banbury People’s Park was opened in 1919 as part of the peace celebrations following the end of the First World War. The war memorial standing in the south-eastern part of the park was erected in 1922. A further inscription was added after the Second World War in remembrance of those who fell in that conflict.

Details

The war memorial stands at the intersection of footpaths in the south-eastern part of Banbury People’s Park, at the centre of a paved area surrounded by flower beds. The tall memorial is built of Portland stone. It consists of a wheel-head cross on a tapering shaft. The shaft rises from a square, tapering, plinth. The plinth stands on a two-stepped octagonal base. The top of the lower step of the base forms a slightly projecting shelf for the placement of floral tributes.

The inscription carved into the front face of the plinth reads IN/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE/ 325 MEN AND 1 WOMAN/ OF THE/ BOROUGH OF BANBURY/ WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES. An inscription on the rear face reads “LEST WE FORGET”/ THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. In addition, an inscription on a third face of the plinth reads ALSO/ TO THE MEMORY/ OF/ THOSE WHO FELL/ IN /THE 1939 – 1945 WAR. All inscriptions are incised and painted with black enamel.

The memorial is surrounded by paving and ornamental railings forming an octagonal enclosure.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 11 January 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
The Victoria History of the County of Oxfordshire: Volume X, (1972), 88
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 18/05/2015 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/183505
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/68369

Legal

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