Summary

First World War memorial. Erected 1917.

Description

First World War memorial. Erected in 1917 to the design of Arthur Walker.

MATERIALS: limestone and timber.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands within the grounds of St Silas Church. It is situated immediately east of the chancel of the church. The memorial comprises a crucifix under a timber gable, set upon the capital of a tapering octagonal shaft with a moulded base, together c3.5m high. At the centre of the cross is a carved limestone scroll bearing the letters: IN/ RI; Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum (Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews). The shaft rests upon a square plinth 0.8m high and a two-tiered square base 0.3m high. On the west face of the plinth is the following inscription in incised lettering: TO THE GREATER GLORY OF/ GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ OUR BROTHERS/ WHO DIED FOR/ ENGLAND HOME & DUTY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914. The east face is inscribed in raised lettering: LEST WE FORGET.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 16 February 2017.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw a huge wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country. One such memorial was erected in 1917 to commemorate residents of Pentonville, Islington who died during the conflict. The sculptor was Arthur Walker, who also created the statue of Florence Nightingale on The Guards Crimean War Memorial, Wellington Place, London.

Reasons for Listing

The First World War Memorial at St Silas Church, Pentonville, erected in 1917 to the design of Arthur Walker, 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-crafted memorial formed of a crucifix set upon the capital of a tapering octagonal shaft and a square plinth;
* Group value: with the Grade II listed St Silas Church.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677778

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

• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)