Summary
First World War memorial unveiled on 14 November 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Petworth war memorial, unveiled on 14 November 1920, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: as an elegant Portland stone cross with carved details;
* Group value: with the Grade I listed Church of St Mary the Virgin and the southern gateway to churchyard listed Grade II and Petworth park and garden registered at Grade I.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. In 1919 a War Memorial Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Leconfield of Petworth House, was formed to consider how best to commemorate those men of Petworth who gave their lives in the First World War. The Leconfield Estate Agent, J B Watson, wrote to Chichester Diocesan Architect, H P Burke-Downing, with a diagram of land attached to the churchyard described as ‘one of the sites’ proposed for the war memorial. This was the site that was eventually chosen. About £450 was raised by public subscription and the architect Herbert Bryant was appointed.
Details
The war memorial stands in a prominent location by the churchyard of the Church of St Mary the Virgin on Church Street in Petworth. The memorial is set within a paved stone enclosure formed by low walls and accessed by five steps. The memorial comprises a tall Portland stone latin cross with decorative mouldings in the juncture of the cross piece and shaft. It is set on a Portland stone octagonal plinth on a two-stepped base. On the plinth are further decorative carved mouldings in a foliate design. On the south face the inscription reads: IN PROUD AND/ PERPETUAL/ REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF/ PETWORTH WHO/ FOUGHT IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ LEST WE FORGET.
End of official list entry
