South Park War Memorial, Reigate

opposite Church of St Luke, Church Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8HY

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

Overview

First World War memorial. 1920 by the local architect, Vincent Hooper. Names of the fallen from the Second World War subsequently added. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458480
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: South Park War Memorial, Reigate
Statutory Address:: opposite Church of St Luke, Church Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8HY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458480
Date first listed:: 06-Sep-2018
List Entry Name:: South Park War Memorial, Reigate
Statutory Address 1:: opposite Church of St Luke, Church Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8HY

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:: opposite Church of St Luke, Church Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8HY

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

County:: Surrey
District:: Reigate and Banstead (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ2522249053

Summary

First World War memorial. 1920 by the local architect, Vincent Hooper. Names of the fallen from the Second World War subsequently added.

Reasons for Designation

South Park War Memorial, Reigate, erected in 1920 to a design by Vincent Hooper, 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, architect designed, example of one of the most popular forms of First World War memorial.

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.

The war memorial at South Park, Reigate was unveiled on 14 November 1920 by Brigadier General G K Cockerill, CB to the designs of local architect, Vincent Hooper (1879-1935). The names of the fallen from the Second World War were subsequently added.

Details

First World War memorial. 1920 by the local architect, Vincent Hooper. Names of the fallen from the Second World War subsequently added.

MATERIALS: Portland stone. Bronze laurel wreath.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on the east side of Church Road opposite the entrance to the Church of St Luke. It consists of a tapered Latin cross set on a tall multi-stage plinth. The top stage of the plinth is square with carved scrolls. Below this is an octagonal stage with a moulded lower section and bearing the Latin inscription DEUS VULT (’God wills it’) on the rear face. The bottom of the plinth consists of two square stone blocks on a three tier base. The front face of lower block bears a bronze laurel wreath above the inscription THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE. Above it on the upper block is the inscription DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED IN WAR/ 1914-1918. The 21 names of the fallen of the First World War, with their rank, are inscribed on the other three faces of the upper block and the 28 names of the fallen of the Second World War, with the date 1939-1945, on the lower block.

The memorial is surrounded by stone paving with steps to the front descending to the road.

Sources

Websites
IWM Register of War Memorials - 41579 - South Park Cross, accessed 2 July 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/41579
War Memorials Online - 178151 - South Park War Memorial, accessed 2 July 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/178151
Other
Surrey Mirror - Report of unveiling (19 November 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.