Cold Ash War Memorial

St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT

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Overview

First World War memorial, designed by Spencer Slingsby Stallwood, unveiled on 16 February 1919. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1437920
Date first listed:: 20-Sep-2016
List Entry Name:: Cold Ash War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1437920
Date first listed:: 20-Sep-2016
List Entry Name:: Cold Ash War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT

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:: St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT

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

District:: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Cold Ash
National Grid Reference:: SU5110169978

Summary

First World War memorial, designed by Spencer Slingsby Stallwood, unveiled on 16 February 1919.

Reasons for Designation

Cold Ash War Memorial, designed by Spencer Slingsby Stallwood, and unveiled on 16 February 1919, 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 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 Mark's Churchyard in Cold Ash as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

It was designed by the architect, Spencer Slingsby Stallwood, who was the Diocesan Surveyor of Berkshire. Mr Burgess, a builder of Cold Ash, erected the memorial. It was unveiled on 16 February 1919 with the Service of Dedication conducted by the Rev W S Grindle, vicar of St Mark’s, and William Dawson, the father of W R A Dawson, whose name appears on the memorial, reading from Revelations 9.

Details

The memorial comprises a hooded oak Calvary cross with a figure of Christ. Two bronze panels set in oak frames either side of the cross are embossed with the names of the fallen, arranged in alphabetical order of surname, with 16 names to each panel.

The inscription at the head of the left-hand panel reads: OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF / THOSE WHO FROM THIS PARISH HAVE LAID / DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR.

The text at the head of the right-hand panel reads: GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST / AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM. / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 July 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/197109?search=search_map%3Fsearch_value%3Dcold%2520ash
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9062
West Berkshire War Memorials, accessed 12 July 2016 from http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/memorial.php?link=WB009

Legal

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