Summary
War memorial in the form of a tall Portland stone cross set on a plinth.
Reasons for Designation
Kingston Hill 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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design: as an attractive and imposing Portland stone cross war memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed St Paul's Church, Vicarage, and Garden Wall and Gate Piers.
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 the country. 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.
Details
Portland stone cross atop a tall shaft, the bottom of which is decorated with carvings of shields representing the Home Nations. This splays outwards onto a plinth with buttresses to each corner, the front face of which bears the (partially eroded) inscription: "May the Peace of God / rest upon the Men / & Women of this Parish and Church / who gave their lives / for their country / AD 1914 - 1918 / 1939 - 1945 / They counted not their / lives dear unto themselves." The other three faces bear the names of the Fallen. The plinth's buttresses each bear carvings of various regimental symbols and insignia; the plinth stands on an octagonal platform, which also carries various flower pots dedicated to individual soldiers who fell in the Second World War.
End of official list entry
