King Edward's School War Memorial
King Edward's School, Petworth Road, Witley, Surrey, GU8 5SG
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1434041
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- King Edward's School War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- King Edward's School, Petworth Road, Witley, Surrey, GU8 5SG
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1434041
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- King Edward's School War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- King Edward's School, Petworth Road, Witley, Surrey, GU8 5SG
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- King Edward's School, Petworth Road, Witley, Surrey, GU8 5SG
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Surrey
- District:
- Waverley (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Witley and Milford
- National Grid Reference:
- SU9494338451
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920.
Reasons for Designation
King Edward's School War Memorial, which is situated at the eastern side of the school, 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;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed King Edward's School of 1867 by Sydney Smirke.
History
King Edward’s School War Memorial was designed by Mr Henry T Edwards of the Art Memorial Company. It was raised by the alumni of the school and their friends and was unveiled by the President of the Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem on 11 September 1920. Also present for the unveiling were the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Lord Ashcombe and the Lord Bishop of Guildford. More than 1500 Old Boys from the school served during the conflict and the memorial commemorates the 93 Masters and former pupils known to have died during the First World War.
In 2015 cleaning and sharpening of the inscriptions was undertaken to improve legibility.
Details
MATERIALS: Portland stone memorial cross.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located on an area of green at the eastern side of the school facing Petworth Road. It consists of a stone wheel cross on an octagonal shaft. The cross stands on an octagonal plinth which sits on a three stepped octagonal base.
The south face of the memorial plinth bears an incised inscription which reads THIS MEMORIAL/ IS ERECTED/ IN AFFECTIONATE/ REMEMBRANCE/ BY OLD BOYS/ OF THE SCHOOL/ AND THEIR FRIENDS. On two of the east faces of the plinth are 1914 and 1919 carved in relief. On the final eastern face is the following inscription in relief LIVE/ THOU FOR/ ENGLAND/ WE FOR/ ENGLAND/ DIED. On the north face is a further incised inscription reading GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY/ DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS. On the west face of the plinth is the school shield carved in relief. Around the top step of the base is carved in relief TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE OLD BOYS AND MASTERS OF THE SCHOOL WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-19.
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, 6 December 2016.
Sources
Books and journals
Mawer, B, King Edward's School: Bridewell to Witley 1553-2005, (2000)
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 06/12/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/51820
War Memorials Online, accessed 06/12/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/193490
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 02:08:37.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry