Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions.

Description

This tall memorial stands close to the junction of Courtlands Avenue and Lyme Farm Road, in a paved area in front of residential housing. Built of Portland stone, it comprises a Latin cross on a round, classical, shaft. A shield bearing the monogram IHS is carved at the intersection of the cross arms and the terminals are decorated with carved oak leaves. The foot of the cross is moulded and the transition to the shaft is marked with oak leaves and acorns carved in relief. The moulded foot ring of the shaft rises from a tapered, octagonal, plinth with an outsailing cornice. The plinth stands on a two-stepped, octagonal, base.

The cornice is inscribed GRANT THEM/ O LORD/ ETERNAL/ REST/ AND LET/ PERPETUAL/ LIGHT SHINE/ UPON THEM. The front face of the plinth is inscribed ERECTED TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD AND/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO DIED/ ON ACTIVE SERVICE/ IN THE WAR 1914-1919/ AND/ 1939-1945. The names of those who are commemorated are carved on the remaining sides of the plinth.

An additional metal plaque applied to the north-facing side of the plinth is inscribed THIS MEMORIAL STANDS/ ON THE SITE OF/ ST PETER'S ELTHAM/ BUILT 1870./ IT WAS DEMOLISHED/ IN 1960/ FOLLOWING DAMAGE/ SUSTAINED BY ENEMY/ ACTION DURING THE/ 1939-1945 WAR.

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, 10 February 2017.

History

The war memorial was unveiled and dedicated by members of the clergy including the Bishop of Woolwich on 15 May 1920. The architects were Hatchard, Smith & Son FRIBA, whose other war memorials include that at Weybridge (Grade II-listed) and St Peter’s Newdigate. It was executed by noted architectural sculptors Farmer and Brindley Ltd at a cost of £340. The memorial stood outside the west door of St Peter’s Church (consecrated in 1871), but the church was closed in 1941 because of war damage, and demolished in 1960. A metal plaque recording this history was applied to the memorial at a later date.

Reasons for Listing

The war memorial to the men of St Peter’s, Lee, on Courtlands Avenue in the London Borough of Greenwich, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason:
* 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.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q27087683

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.

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