Summary

First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

The war memorial stands in a prominent location adjacent to All Saints’ Church on Tilford Road within a paved stone semi-circular enclosure accessed by three steps. The enclosure is formed of a low stone wall c 1m high which serves to frame the memorial.

The memorial comprises a Portland stone hooded calvary cross with a figure of Christ crucified surmounting a tapered column set on a square plinth. This is set upon a square three-stepped base.

Inscriptions and names are carved on the west face of the plinth; the inscription reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF TILFORD WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919. Underneath are inscribed 29 names of those who lost their lives in the First World War.

On the north face is inscribed: THE FREE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE and on the south face the inscription reads: BEHOLD WE CALLED THEM BLESSED WHICH ENDURED.

A rectangular stone plaque was later fixed to the west face of the enclosure wall and is inscribed with: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE WAR. Underneath are inscribed the names of 23 men who lost their lives in the Second World War. On either side of the plaque is inscribed 1939 and 1945.

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, 6 December 2016.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 at Tilford was erected during the early 1920s to commemorate the fallen from this conflict.

A photograph of 1923 shows the memorial within its walled enclosure. Following the Second World War, the names of those who lost their lives in that war were also added.

The memorial was cleaned in 1989.

Reasons for Listing

Tilford War Memorial 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design interest: as an elegant Portland stone hooded cross with a sculpted figure of Christ within a walled enclosure;
* Group value: with All Saints Church listed at Grade II.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677771

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living