Summary
War memorial. Unveiled 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Dallington War Memorial, at the north-east corner of St Mary’s churchyard, 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 First World War;
* Design: a tall, well-carved stone cross of some elaboration;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary.
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Dallington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 17 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The memorial takes the form of an elaborate Weldon stone cross, c6m high, standing in the south-east corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade II*-listed). A three-stepped base consisting of two octagonal steps and a square step are surmounted by a square plinth with angle buttresses. Rising from the plinth is a square-based pillar transposing into an octagonal sectioned tapering shaft with integral cross with foliate ends; around the head is a laurel wreath.
End of official list entry
