Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial

Christ Church, Hampstead Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1AB

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

Overview

First World War memorial. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1450696
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Christ Church, Hampstead Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1AB

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1450696
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Christ Church, Hampstead Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1AB

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:: Christ Church, Hampstead Square, Hampstead, London, NW3 1AB

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Camden (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ2646186097

Summary

First World War memorial.

Reasons for Designation

Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial, which is situated outside Christ Church, 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* A well-executed Celtic wheel-head cross 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 at Christ Church in Hampstead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.

The top of the shaft suffered damaged at some point and this was repaired by 2015.

Details

First World War memorial.

DESCRIPTION: Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial is located between the north-west corner angle buttresses of Christ Church (Grade II-listed), on a raised area of hard-standing.

It consists of a stone Celtic wheel-head cross with a four-sided shaft rising from a three-stepped base. The cross-head has decorative carved knot work to the arms and a circular emboss to the centre; the wheel has three circular embosses to each segment. The north-west face of the shaft carries the names of the dead, including their rank and regiment. All lettering is incised and painted black.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed to either side within the angle buttresses of the church and stands within a small, curved area of raised hard-standing. A band of brick kerbing surmounted by modern, metal railings* denotes the north-western boundary.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 05 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/159731

Legal

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