Cold Ash War Memorial
St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed building
- List Entry Number:
- 1437920
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-2016
- Statutory Address:
- St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed building
- List Entry Number:
- 1437920
- Date first listed:
- 20-Sept-2016
- Statutory Address 1:
- St Mark's Churchyard, Cold Ash Hill, Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 9PT
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 Register, accessed 12 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9062
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 July 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/197109?search=search_map%3Fsearch_value%3Dcold%2520ash
West Berkshire War Memorials, accessed 12 July 2016 from http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/memorial.php?link=WB009
Legal
Map
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