Bethersden War Memorial
The Street, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AG
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437859
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Bethersden War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- The Street, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AG
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437859
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Bethersden War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- The Street, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AG
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:
- The Street, Bethersden, Kent, TN26 3AG
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Kent
- District:
- Ashford (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Bethersden
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ9283740253
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled on 22 December 1921, with further names added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Bethersden War Memorial, unveiled on 22 December 1921, 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;
* Architectural interest: a well-executed and striking granite memorial;
* Group value: with the Church of St Margaret (Grade I), Church Cottage, West View Laburnam and the George Public House, all listed Grade II.
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 Bethersden as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The war memorial was designed by Mr Russell, a local builder, and it commemorates 18 fallen local men. It was unveiled on 22 December 1921 by Colonel Cornwallis.
The seven names of those who lost their lives in the Second World War were added at a later date.
In 2011 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.
Details
MATERIALS: granite.
DESCRIPTION: Bethersden War Memorial consists of a Latin cross rising from a slightly tapered shaft, both of which are octagonal in form. The base of the shaft is a square block with chamfered upper edges and this is set upon a plinth with capstone.
The plinth is flanked by two square panels embedded into the churchyard wall and set at angles to the plinth. The front face of the plinth is inscribed with black painted lead lettering and reads: 1914 IN MEMORY OF 1919 / (NAMES) / THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. There are four further names present on the left hand side of the plinth.
The central part of the base is inclined and it is flanked by square blocks. The inscription on the base reads: 1939 – 1945 / (NAMES).
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 12/07/2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1805
War Memorials Online, accessed 12/07/2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/120730
War Memorials Trust, accessed 12/07/2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=911
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 10-Jun-2026 at 07:25:26.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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