Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1922.

Description

First World War memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1922.

MATERIALS: of stone.

PLAN: it is square on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands on a triangular-shaped area of grass at the junction of Church Lane, High Street and Croydon Road. It takes the form of a Latin cross and comprises a three-step base, a square plinth and a tall shaft which tapers in square section to a moulded knop over which is a Latin cross with fleur-de-lys shaped terminals. The dedicatory inscription on the south-west face of the plinth reads 'TO / THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF / THOSE WHO FELL IN THE / GREAT WAR / FROM THE PARISH OF CROYDON / SONS OF THIS PLACE LET THIS / OF YOU BE SAID, / THAT YOU, WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY / OF YOUR DEAD, / THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES, THAT / YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP / A RICHER HARVEST ERE YOU FALL / ASLEEP'. The names of the men who died and their respective regiments are listed alphabetically on the plinth's north-west and south-east faces.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 16 January 2017.

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 unveiled and dedicated on 14 January 1922 at Croydon in Cambridgeshire. With a population of just under 300, Croydon provided 70 volunteers for service in the Great War. Of these, 16 were killed and 14 wounded. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Professor Seward, Master of Downing College, Cambridge, while the dedicatory prayers were read by Rev Herbert Lloyd, Chaplain to the Forces.

Reasons for Listing

Croydon war memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1922, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons;

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;

* Design interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a Latin cross.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677942

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)