Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Rowlands Gill War Memorial, which stands at the junction of Station Road and Smailes Lane, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an austere yet poignant war memorial.
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 Rowlands Gill as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The tall granite memorial stands beside the junction of Station Road and Smailes Lane. It takes the form of a tapering pylon, rectangular on plan, composed of three sections that stand on a moulded foot. That stands on a stone step, and a lower step of rendered bricks. The monument is raised on a hexagonal platform approached from the pavement by two steps. A low, staggered, and coped wall encloses the platform to the rear.
End of official list entry
