Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: Valley End war memorial is located on Valley End Road opposite the entrance to the church of St Saviour (Grade II). The memorial consists of a limestone wheel cross on a tapering shaft rising from a stepped stone plinth. The initials ‘HIS’ are carved into centre of the head of the cross. The south face of the memorial plinth has an incised dedication which reads: REMEMBER BEFORE GOD/ THESE MEN OF VALLEY END WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ “GRANT THEM THY PEACE O LORD”/ ALSO/1939-1945. The north face has a further incised inscription which reads: I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT/ I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE/ I HAVE KEPT MY FAITH. The east and west faces are inscribed with the 10 names of the fallen.

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

A memorial committee was set up in 1919 to discuss a war memorial for Valley End. A decision was reached that the memorial should be in the form of a cross and permission was sought from Lord Onslow to erect the memorial on common land owned by him. Valley End War Memorial was designed by the architect Mr Charles Stanley Kimpton, of Sunningdale. It was erected in June 1921 and cost £204.13.9. The memorial was dedicated by John Randolph, Bishop of Guilford and unveiled by HRH Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll on 12 June 1921.

In 1922 a garden was designed around the memorial including trenching which was carried out by ex-servicemen at their own expense. There was a path from the road to the memorial which was grassed with a border of heathers. In 1923 a low post and chain fence was erected around the memorial. In 2015 a project, with funding from War Memorials Trust, was undertaken to clean the memorial and install a new post and chain fence based on historic evidence.

Reasons for Listing

Valley End War Memorial, unveiled in 1921, 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 modest yet well executed memorial;
* Group value: with the church of St Saviour (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677990

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

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