Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920.

Description

MATERIALS: stone Calvary cross.

DESCRIPTION: Kingston Vale War Memorial is located opposite the porch of the Church of St John the Baptist in an area of green surrounded on three sides by hedging.

The war memorial comprises a hooded Calvary cross with a carved figure of Christ. The cross stands on a tapered shaft rising from a square plinth and three-stepped octagonal base. The names are incised on the faces of the plinth by year and preceded by the date of death. The dedication is located on the top two octagonal steps and reads: THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HANDS OF GOD/ IN/ MEMORY OF OUR DEAD/ 1914 – 1918.

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 was raised at St John the Baptist Church, Kingston Vale in 1920 at a cost of £185, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 28 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. 

In 2013 the memorial was repaired with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Kingston Vale War Memorial, unveiled in 1920, 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 sacrifices it made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: a well-carved example of a hooded Calvary cross.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678152

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.

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