War Memorial at St Silas Church

Churchyard of St Silas Church, Penton Street, London, N1 9UL

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Overview

First World War memorial. Erected 1917. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1431874
Date first listed:: 05-Jan-2016
List Entry Name:: War Memorial at St Silas Church
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Silas Church, Penton Street, London, N1 9UL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1431874
Date first listed:: 05-Jan-2016
List Entry Name:: War Memorial at St Silas Church
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Silas Church, Penton Street, London, N1 9UL

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:: Churchyard of St Silas Church, Penton Street, London, N1 9UL

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Islington (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ3107083306

Summary

First World War memorial. Erected 1917.

Reasons for Designation

The First World War Memorial at St Silas Church, Pentonville, erected in 1917 to the design of Arthur Walker, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * 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 the C20; * Design: a well-crafted memorial formed of a crucifix set upon the capital of a tapering octagonal shaft and a square plinth; * Group value: with the Grade II listed St Silas Church.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in 1917 to commemorate residents of Pentonville, Islington who died during the conflict. The sculptor was Arthur Walker, who also created the statue of Florence Nightingale on The Guards Crimean War Memorial, Wellington Place, London.

Details

First World War memorial. Erected in 1917 to the design of Arthur Walker.

MATERIALS: limestone and timber.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands within the grounds of St Silas Church. It is situated immediately east of the chancel of the church. The memorial comprises a crucifix under a timber gable, set upon the capital of a tapering octagonal shaft with a moulded base, together c3.5m high. At the centre of the cross is a carved limestone scroll bearing the letters: IN/ RI; Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews). The shaft rests upon a square plinth 0.8m high and a two-tiered square base 0.3m high. On the west face of the plinth is the following inscription in incised lettering: TO THE GREATER GLORY OF/ GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ OUR BROTHERS/ WHO DIED FOR/ ENGLAND HOME & DUTY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914. The east face is inscribed in raised lettering: LEST WE FORGET.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 16 February 2017.

Sources

Websites
St Silas Church, accessed 10 November 2015 from http://www.saint-silas.org.uk/contact.asp
War Memorials Online, accessed 16 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/188491
War Memorials Register, accessed 1 November 2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/39131

Legal

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