Pangbourne War Memorial

Churchyard of St James the Less, Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7AR

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Overview

A war memorial cross of 1920 by artist Vera Waddington. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452724
Date first listed:: 26-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Pangbourne War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St James the Less, Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7AR

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452724
Date first listed:: 26-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Pangbourne War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St James the Less, Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7AR

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:: Churchyard of St James the Less, Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne, Reading, RG8 7AR

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

District:: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Pangbourne
National Grid Reference:: SU6344076415

Summary

A war memorial cross of 1920 by artist Vera Waddington.

Reasons for Designation

Pangbourne 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * as a rare example of a war memorial designed by a female artist.

Architectural interest:

* as a well-crafted cross design in Portland stone and brick; * the structure is unaltered except for restored detailing.

Group value:

* in the Churchyard of St James the Less (Grade II*) close to the Loveling Tomb (Grade II).

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. One such memorial was raised at Pangbourne as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

It commemorates 41 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 14 Fallen of that conflict. Subsequently, the name of a local soldier killed in Bosnia in 1994 has been added to the memorial.

Pangbourne War Memorial was designed by Vera Waddington, a local artist, although architect J Stanley Vaughan may also have been involved. Her design was accepted by the war memorial committee on 23 October 1919. The memorial was erected in September 1920 and was unveiled on 7 October 1920 by Major General T Waddington. A memorial window in the parish church was also dedicated on the same day.

The memorial underwent conservation works in 2017 with grant assistance from War Memorials Trust and through local donations.

Details

A war memorial of 1920 date by V Waddington.

MATERIALS: constructed of Portland limestone with brick detailing.

DESCRIPTION: a Portland stone wheel cross on top of a square shaft. The shaft rises from a stepped square plinth with brick detailing to the corners on a single-stepped base. The limestone panels between the brick are simply incised with the dates of the conflicts and the names of the Fallen. The south face of the plinth is inscribed IN/ PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF OUR PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1919/ GRANT LORD/ THAT WE MAY LIVE NOBLY/ AS THESE MEN DIED.

The 2017 works included restoration of the inscription panels and new paving laid around the memorial.

Sources

Websites
UK National Inventory of War Memorials - Pangbourne, accessed 22 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9084
Vera Waddington, Artist 1876-1954, accessed 22 November 2017 from http://verawaddington.com/pangbourne-war-memorial-from-veras-diaries/
War Memorials Online - Pangbourne, accessed 22 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/209180/
West Berkshire War Memorials - Pangbourne, accessed 21 February 2018 from http://westberkshirewarmemorials.org.uk/memorial.php?link=WB041
Other
Reading Observer, Saturday 16 October 1920

Legal

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