Kingswood and Tadworth War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial. Designed by Frederick Bligh Bond and unveiled in 1920. Names of the fallen of the Second World War subsequently added.

Reasons for Designation

Kingswood and Tadworth war memorial, designed by Frederick Bligh Bond and unveiled in 1920, 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:

* as a well-executed example of one of the common forms of First World War memorials by a notable architect.

Group value:

* with the Grade II listed Church of St Andrew, Kingswood.

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.

Kingswood and Tadworth War Memorial was unveiled by Major Reginald Bonsor on 27 November 1920 and was designed by the noted architect and archaeologist Frederick Bligh Bond. The dates of the fallen of the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial. The memorial was restored in 2014.

Frederick Bligh Bond (1864-1945) was a noted West Country architect and archaeologist who specialised in ecclesiastical architecture and designed a number of war memorials. Those at Glastonbury, where he was Director of Excavations at Glastonbury Abbey, (Grade II, NHLE 1431598) and Nailsworth, Gloucestershire (Grade II, NHLE 1423693) have similarities with the Kingswood and Tadworth example. Bligh Bond became a somewhat controversial figure due to his involvement in psychical research.

Details

First World War memorial. Designed by Frederick Bligh Bond and unveiled in 1920. Names of the fallen of the Second World War subsequently added.

MATERIALS: Doulting limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial, which stands on the open space to the west of St Andrew's churchyard, takes the form of a Celtic cross with carved strap work decoration. The tapering, square-section shaft is set on an octagonal tapering plinth with a three tier octagonal base, later topped with stone slabs. The shaft carries a carved symbol showing two birds eating from the Tree of Life, representing the immortality of the soul. The dedication of the front of the plinth reads ‘1914-1918/ IN LASTING MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/ FOUGHT & DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY’. Above the inscription and on the other three principal sides of the plinth are recorded the 60 names of the fallen from the First World War. The two side faces bear the additional inscription ‘KINGSWOOD’ and ‘TADWORTH’. The rear face has the inscription ‘WE SHALL SERVE OUR GENERATIONS./ OUR REST WE EXPECT ELSEWHERE:/ THAT WILL BE DURABLE.’.

On the front face of the top tier of the base, the inscription reads: ‘1939-1945/ IN LASTING MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY’ with the names of the 62 fallen from the Second World War on the front faces of the upper two tiers.

Adjoining the rear of the memorial is a small paved area with the central stone bearing the inscription: IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THE/ PRINCESS LOUISE FUSILIERS/ & 48TH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA/ WHO WERE STATIONED LOCALLY/ AND GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR OUR FREEDOM/ 1939-1945’.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register entry 23690 - Kingswood Parish Memorial Wheel Cross, accessed 16 May 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23690
Surrey in the Great War: Kingswood, St Andrew's Church Parish Memorial Wheel Cross, accessed 16 May 2018 from http://www.surreyinthegreatwar.org.uk/collections/getrecord/SHMEM_W_M_41
War Memorials Online: Memorial 149972 - Kingswood, accessed 16 May 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/149972

Other
Surrey Mirror - Article on the dedication of the Kingswood and Tadworth War Memorial (3 December 1920)
Vestry and General Record Book of the Church of St Andrew, Kingswood - p.60

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.