Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

West Molesey War Memorial stands in a memorial garden on the north side of Walton Road. The garden, which is separated from the street by iron railings and is enclosed with a wooden panel fence, includes shrubberies and two garden seats. The memorial is a 5.5m tall, rectangular, Portland stone pillar, surmounted by a segmental pediment and a low rectangular block. The pillar stands on a two-stage base, which rises from a low step. The memorial is surrounded by a square pavement, approached from the street by a path.

At the top of a raised panel on the front face of the memorial is carved a wreath with ribbons. The wreath encircles the dedication PRO PATRIA. Below the wreath is carved the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ WEST MOLESEY/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ (NAMES)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ 1914 + 1918

A raised panel on the rear of the pillar carries the general inscription THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ TO OUR GLORIOUS DEAD. The name of the serviceman who died in the Second World War is carved on the front face of the upper stage of the base. A small bronze plaque affixed below the name reads ALSO THOSE/ WHO DIED/ 1939-45. A swag of cloth and leaves, carved in relief, decorates the upper part of each side of the pillar.

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, 5 December 2016.

History

West Molesey War Memorial was erected following the end of the First World War, dedicated to the 29 men who from the village who lost their lives. A further name was added to the memorial following the end of the Second World War along with a small bronze plaque. Until at least 1960 the memorial was located at the intersection of New Road and Walton Road. It was moved c65m to its present location in the memorial garden next to West Molesey Recreation Park.

Reasons for Listing

West Molesey War Memorial, which stands in the memorial garden on Walton Road, 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;
* Design: a well-proportioned and carefully detailed Portland stone pillar.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677372

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

• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)