Putney War Memorial

Church Square, Putney High Street, Putney, Surrey, SW15 1SN

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War stone cross war memorial, set on a plinth. Second World War inscriptions added later. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1445630
Date first listed:: 01-Nov-2017
List Entry Name:: Putney War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church Square, Putney High Street, Putney, Surrey, SW15 1SN

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1445630
Date first listed:: 01-Nov-2017
List Entry Name:: Putney War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Church Square, Putney High Street, Putney, Surrey, SW15 1SN

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:: Church Square, Putney High Street, Putney, Surrey, SW15 1SN

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Wandsworth (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ2416275571

Summary

First World War stone cross war memorial, set on a plinth. Second World War inscriptions added later.

Reasons for Designation

Putney 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 the local community, and the sacrifices they made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* As a dignified and imposing stone cross war memorial.

* Group value: with the adjacent Grade II* listed St Mary's 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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised in Putney as a permanent testament to the sacrifices made by the members of the local community. It was erected 16 June 1921 in a ceremony led by Field Commander Sir William Robinson, GCB and attended by Rev. HE Bamforth and the relatives of the Fallen. Further inscriptions were added at some point after the Second World War. In 2005 it was moved from the churchyard to its present location in Church Square.

Details

First World War stone cross war memorial, set on a plinth. Second World War inscriptions added later.

Materials: stone cross war memorial.

Description: decorated cross with Christ sculpture, atop a tall an octagonal shaft, the upper most part of which is decorated with a band of carved roses. This rests on a three-step octagonal plinth.

Inscription: the upper and lower tiers of the memorial bear the following inscriptions: Front upper: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN / THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY / DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS; front lower: + IN MEMORY OF THE MEN / FROM PUTNEY WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT & VICTORIOUS WAR; right upper: 1939 - 1945 / IN HONOURED MEMORY OF; right lower: THE CIVILIANS OF PUTNEY / WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN / THE SECOND WORLD WAR; back lower: TO THOSE THAT PAID / THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN / ALL WARS AND CONFLICTS; left upper: 1939 - 1945 / THE SECOND WORLD WAR / IN HONOURED MEMORY OF and left lower: MEN AND WOMEN OF PUTNEY / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SERVING / IN HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums Register, accessed 8 March 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/12532
War Memorials Online, accessed 30 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/123600/
Other
Putney Parish Magazine, August 1921

Legal

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