Seaford War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Seaford War Memorial, which stands on Sutton Park Road, 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.

Architectural interest:

* A tall granite wheel-head cross ornamented with carved interlace patterns, in the Celtic style.

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 Seaford as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 104 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The inscriptions include the names of seven men who died on service during the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

The memorial was unveiled on 3 August 1921 at its original location on Dane Road. In 1952 it was moved about 500m to the north-east to its current location on Sutton Park Road, and the names of 88 service personnel and 20 civilians who had died in the Second World War were added. The then Chairman of the Seaford Urban District Council unveiled it on Sunday 2 November 1952 and the Vicar of St Leonard’s Church, Reverend Shillito, performed the re-dedication.

Details

The memorial stands in a small garden in the junction of Sutton Park Road and Avondale Road. It is a tall memorial cross built of Cornish granite. The wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style, is decorated with carved interlace patterns which extend onto a panel on the front face of the cross shaft. Five hemispherical bosses ornament the front face of the cross head. The cross shaft is supported by a plinth and two-stepped base. Leaded lettering on the recessed front, south-facing, side of the plinth reads THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

On the west-facing side of the plinth are the names of those who were killed during the Boer War, listed alphabetically below the dates 1899 - 1902, followed by casualties from the First World War listed under the dates 1914 – 1918. The names of further servicemen killed in the First World War continue on the east-facing side of the plinth. On the north-facing side are the names of those killed in the Second World War: the inscription reads 1939 – 1945/ SERVICES/ (NAMES)/ CIVILIANS/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17217
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 October 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/190094/
Seaford Monumental Inscriptions Group, accessed 11 October 2017 from https://www.seamig.org.uk/warmem.htm?zoom_highlight=Seaford

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