Erith (Christ Church) War Memorial
In the grounds of Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1445231
- Date first listed:
- 10-Apr-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Erith (Christ Church) War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- In the grounds of Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AN
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1445231
- Date first listed:
- 10-Apr-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Erith (Christ Church) War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- In the grounds of Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AN
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:
- In the grounds of Christ Church, Victoria Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 3AN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Bexley (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ5122977911
Summary
First World War memorial in the form of a marble cross on a plinth.
Reasons for Designation
Erith (Christ Church) War Memorial 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 First World War;
* Design: as a dignified and imposing marble cross war memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Christ Church.
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, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised in Erith at Christ Church 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
Tall marble cross, the front face of which features a reverse sword carved in relief, with a laurel wreath around the hilt; below the sword tip is the inscription 1914 / -- / 1919. The cross stands atop a platform on a plinth (both marble), both of which bear inscriptions. The front face of the platform section reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD; the front of the plinth reads AND IN MEMORY OF / (NAMES), with the back face bearing more names. This stands atop a two-stepped base, the top section considerably bigger; the front face of this bears the inscription WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR / THAT WE MIGHT LIVE / "OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH." / "JESU MERCY." The whole structure is surrounded by dwarf pillars linked by chains.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 6 June 2017.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1216
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 June 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/160284
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 15-Jun-2026 at 20:27:45.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.