Banstead War Memorial

War Memorial, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3AA

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled 5 June 1921, and probably designed by George Jack, 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:: 1458546
Date first listed:: 22-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Banstead War Memorial
Statutory Address:: War Memorial, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3AA

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1458546
Date first listed:: 22-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:: Banstead War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: War Memorial, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3AA

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:: War Memorial, Park Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3AA

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:: TQ2587059941

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 5 June 1921, and probably designed by George Jack, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Banstead War Memorial, erected in 1921, 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:

* as a simple, elegant, memorial, probably designed by George Jack, which is stylistically redolent of its inter-war date.

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 Banstead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 5 June 1921 by General Sir Charles Carmichael Monro. It was funded by public subscription and the local archive records that it was 'handed over to the care of the schoolchildren for all time'. Following the Second World War, names of the Fallen of that conflict were added to the memorial.

It originally stood on a circular base laid in crazy paving, in the centre of the road at the eastern end of the High Street, where it formed a small island. In September 1996 it was moved north-eastwards by a few yards to allow creation of a larger mini-roundabout, and the lettering was also re-carved.

A drawing entitled 'sketch design for a proposed war memorial at Banstead Surrey in Portland stone' (E.2384-1932 April 1919, Victoria & Albert Museum) and closely resembling the built monument, is signed George Jack, Architect, 23 Station Road, Church End, Finchley N3, April 19 [19]. George Washington Henry Jack (1855-1931) was born in Long Island, New York and trained in Glasgow under Horatio Bromhead before becoming an assistant to Philip Webb. Like many of his contemporaries he also designed furniture, and made plaster casts and wood carvings. He worked for Morris and Co and taught at the Central School for Arts and Crafts.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled 5 June 1921, and probably designed by George Jack, with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: Portland stone

DESCRIPTION: a tapering octagonal shaft surmounted by a cusped and facetted cross, mounted on a tall, stepped octagonal base, with a slightly battered lower section, which in turn stands on an octagonal plinth. The base is inscribed THESE MEN/ OF/ BANSTEAD/ FELL IN THE WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ 1939 - 1945 (NAMES).

Sources

Books and journals
Felstead, A, Directory of British Architects 1834 to 1914 Volume 1 A-K, (2001), 1001
Websites
Banstead History Research Group - Banstead War Memorial, accessed 4 July 2018 from https://www.bansteadhistory.com/
Banstead War Memorial, Imperial War Museum War Memorial Register, accessed 25 July 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/23645

Legal

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