Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: stone plinth and cross shaft, metal cross.

DESCRIPTION: Hartfield War Memorial is located on the east side High Street in close proximity to a number of listed buildings including The Hay Wagon Inn and the Village Water Pump (both Grade II-listed). It comprises a stone three-stepped base surmounted by a plinth, tall shaft and hemisphere, from which rises a small metal cross. The front face of the cross bears a reversed sword.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the shaft reads TO THE/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD OF/ HARTFIELD. Names are incised into the faces of the plinth and into the risers of the top step of the base. A stone to the front of the memorial bears the dates 1939 – 1945 on the top, with 13 Second World War names incised into the front face.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed by timber posts carrying a chain.

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, 1 December 2016.

History

Hartfield War Memorial was raised to commemorate 40 local servicemen who died during the First World War. It was built by Burslem Stonemasons of Tunbridge Wells. The memorial was unveiled on 10 October 1920 by John McAndrew and dedicated by the Rector of Hartfield. The names of the fallen from the Second World War were added at a later date.

In 2013 a project was undertaken to improve the legibility of the inscriptions with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. A further 15 names were added in 2014. This work was also carried out by Burslem Stonemasons and includes 11 First World War names and four Second World War names, of which three are civilians killed in an air-raid on East Grinstead in July 1943.

Reasons for Listing

Hartfield War Memorial, which stands on the High Street, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Group value: with numerous listed buildings on High Street, including The Hay Wagon Inn and the village water pump (both listed at Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678085

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's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6