Kingston Vale War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3PY

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1436525
Date first listed:: 20-Jul-2016
List Entry Name:: Kingston Vale War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3PY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1436525
Date first listed:: 20-Jul-2016
List Entry Name:: Kingston Vale War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3PY

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 the Church of St John the Baptist, Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3PY

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Kingston upon Thames (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ2111671969

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Kingston Vale War Memorial, unveiled in 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 the local community, and the sacrifices it made in the First World War; * Architectural interest: a well-carved example of a hooded Calvary cross.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at St John the Baptist Church, Kingston Vale in 1920 at a cost of £185, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 28 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

In 2013 the memorial was repaired with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

MATERIALS: stone Calvary cross.

DESCRIPTION: Kingston Vale War Memorial is located opposite the porch of the Church of St John the Baptist in an area of green surrounded on three sides by hedging.

The war memorial comprises a hooded Calvary cross with a carved figure of Christ. The cross stands on a tapered shaft rising from a square plinth and three-stepped octagonal base. The names are incised on the faces of the plinth by year and preceded by the date of death. The dedication is located on the top two octagonal steps and reads: THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD/ IN/ MEMORY OF OUR DEAD/ 1914 – 1918.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 26 May 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/161597
War Memorials Trust, accessed 26 May 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1014

Legal

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