Crowborough War Memorial

Crowborough War Memorial, Outside All Saint's Church, Chapel Green, Church Road, Crowborough, TN6 1ED

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Overview

First and Second World War memorial. Erected 1920 with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447190
Date first listed:: 01-Jun-2017
List Entry Name:: Crowborough War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Crowborough War Memorial, Outside All Saint's Church, Chapel Green, Church Road, Crowborough, TN6 1ED

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447190
Date first listed:: 01-Jun-2017
List Entry Name:: Crowborough War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Crowborough War Memorial, Outside All Saint's Church, Chapel Green, Church Road, Crowborough, TN6 1ED

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:: Crowborough War Memorial, Outside All Saint's Church, Chapel Green, Church Road, Crowborough, TN6 1ED

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

County:: East Sussex
District:: Wealden (District Authority)
Parish:: Crowborough
National Grid Reference:: TQ5183330637

Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected 1920 with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

Reasons for Designation

Crowborough War Memorial, erected in 1920, 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 conflicts of the C20;

* Design: a tall Portland stone obelisk set within a semi-circular sandstone wall;

* Group value: with the Grade II-listed Church of All Saints and Vicarage.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw an unprecedented wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 at Crowborough as permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Following the First World War, it was decided that a memorial would be set up in the Crowborough War Memorial hospital. In April 1920 the Reverend Samuel Fisher Akroyd offered the local war committee the site of Chapel Green and the existing memorial fund was divided and part of it was spent on the monument that stands outside of the church today.

The memorial was unveiled on 15 August 1920, with over 1,000 people present. A short ceremony was held with the ‘Comrades of the Great War’ marching to the site headed by the Crowborough Silver Band. The vicar unveiled the monument whilst the buglers of the Royal Engineers sounded the Last Post with wreaths being laid in remembrance.

There was a later addition of names to the tablets of servicemen who gave their lives in the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial. Erected in 1920. Architect unknown.

MATERIALS: Portland stone obelisk, sandstone wall and granite tablets.

DESCRIPTION: Crowborough War Memorial comprises a four metre tall Portland stone obelisk mounted on a square, stepped plinth. The obelisk and plinth sits within a semi-circular sandstone wall, on which 12 granite tablets bearing the roll of honour are mounted. There is a stone laurel wreath in relief on the front of the obelisk.

The plinth is inscribed: IN / PROUD AND GRATEFUL / MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF / CROWBOROUGH AND DISTRICT / WHO DIED / IN THE DEFENCE / OF THEIR COUNTRY / 1914-1919 / ERECTED BY / PARENTS AND FRIENDS / “THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS / ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD”.

The 6 tablets to the west of the obelisk are inscribed with the names of 191 servicemen from the First World War; the 6 to the east are dedicated to the fallen from the Second World War. The tablets on each end are blank, with the middle four being inscribed: 1939 - 1945 / ROYAL NAVY/ / ARMY/ // / ROYAL AIR FORCE / / MERCHANT NAVY/ // CANADIAN ARMY/ / US ARMY AIR FORCE / / CIVILIANS / .

Sources

Books and journals
'Crowborough Heroes – War Memorial Unveiled' in Kent and Sussex Courier, , Vol. 4415, (20 August 1920 ), 10
Websites
History of the war memorial, accessed 3 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/106787/
Information on war memorials from the Roll of Honour database, accessed 3 May 2017 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Sussex/Crowborough.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 3 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/106787/
War Memorials Register, accessed 3 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17145

Legal

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