Aston War Memorial

Aston War Memorial, Oxfordshire, The Square, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2DL

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Overview

First World War memorial of 1919, with names added after the Second World War.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1453276
Date first listed:
11-May-2018
List Entry Name:
Aston War Memorial
Statutory Address:
Aston War Memorial, Oxfordshire, The Square, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2DL
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1453276
Date first listed:
11-May-2018
List Entry Name:
Aston War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
Aston War Memorial, Oxfordshire, The Square, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2DL

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
Aston War Memorial, Oxfordshire, The Square, Aston, Bampton, Oxfordshire, OX18 2DL

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

County:
Oxfordshire
District:
West Oxfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:
Aston, Cote, Shifford and Chimney
National Grid Reference:
SP3406103030

Summary

First World War memorial of 1919, with names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Aston War Memorial, Oxfordshire, of 1919, 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 modest, but poignant war memorial, created from good quality materials.

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 in the village of Aston, Oxfordshire, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars.
 
It commemorates the 18 local servicemen from the area, who died during the First World War. The memorial was dedicated in November 1919, by the Reverend N Germon and Reverend W G Watkins. After the Second World War, an inscription was added, to commemorate the four fallen from this conflict.

In 2006, the access to the war memorial was improved, with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

First World War memorial of 1919, with names added after the Second World War.
 
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
 
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands on the small village green, in the centre of Aston. It consists of a slim Latin cross, the arms of which, are octagonal in section, and terminate in splayed mouldings. This is supported by a tapering octagonal shaft, which rises from a broached square plinth, set upon, a three-stepped octagonal base.
 
The north and south faces of the plinth, are inscribed with names of the fallen, without their rank. The main dedication on the western face reads IN GRATEFUL / MEMORY OF THE / BRAVE MEN FROM / THIS PARISH / WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR / KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 -1918. On the eastern face, there is a further inscription TRUE LOVE BY LIFE / TRUE LOVE BY DEATH – IS TRIED / LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND / WE FOR ENGLAND DIED.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 14/03/2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/92845
Imperial War Museum, accessed 14/03/2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/31471

Other
Witney Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette (8 November 1919), p2

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Aston War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jun-2026 at 19:08:07.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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