Chertsey War Memorial

Chertsey War Memorial, Outside Church of St Peter, Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8AP

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452800
Date first listed:: 22-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Chertsey War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Chertsey War Memorial, Outside Church of St Peter, Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8AP

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452800
Date first listed:: 22-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Chertsey War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Chertsey War Memorial, Outside Church of St Peter, Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8AP

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:: Chertsey War Memorial, Outside Church of St Peter, Windsor Street, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8AP

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

County:: Surrey
District:: Runnymede (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ0421366969

Summary

A First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Chertsey War Memorial, erected in 1921 by Joseph Whitehead and Sons, 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 sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* for the elegant and evocative bronze sculpture of a serviceman.

Group value:

* with the adjacent Church of St Peter, listed at 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. 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 Chertsey 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 130 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 64 Fallen of that conflict.

The memorial was built by Joseph Whitehead and Sons at a cost of £2,400, and was unveiled on 30 October 1921 by Lieutenant Colonel Clare DSO MC, and dedicated by the Lord Bishop of Guildford.

Details

MATERIALS: granite pedestal with bronze sculpture and plaques.

DESCRIPTION: Chertsey War Memorial is located on Windsor Street, outside the Church of St Peter (Listed at Grade II*, National Heritage List for England reference 1029167).

It consists of a bronze sculpture of a serviceman in uniform holding his rifle in his left hand and his helmet held aloft in his right hand. The sculpture stands on a granite pedestal with bronze plaques on each face. Underneath the pedestal is a three-stepped base.

The main plaque reads 1914 - 1919/ TO THE HONOURED/ MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF/ CHERTSEY/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR. A plaque was added to the base of the plinth after the Second World War, which is inscribed ALSO OF THOSE/ 1939 WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES 1945/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR with another plaque underneath carrying the names. The plaques on the other faces also list names of the Fallen, with the western plaque ending with ALSO IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION/ OF ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN/ THE WAR.

Sources

Websites
The Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, accessed 27 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2115
War Memorials Online, accessed 27 November 2017 from http://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/120452

Legal

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