Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 22 April 1922, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: limestone

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands beside the deconsecrated St Mary's Elvetham church which is located in the grounds of The Elvetham Hotel, Hampshire.

The memorial comprises a lantern cross carved with decorative details. It is set on a tapering chamfered shaft on a square plinth. The south face of the plinth bears a carved wreath enclosing a central inscription in relief which reads: IN/ MEMORIAM/ 1914 – 1918.

On the north side is an additional inscription which reads: “GRANT THEM O LORD ETERNAL REST/ AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL/ SHINE UPON THEM.”/ (NAMES). The other two faces of the plinth are inscribed with the names of the fallen from the First World War. 

The memorial is set on top of a three-stepped base. On the top step of the base is a later angled tablet which has 1939 – 1945 carved in relief followed by the inscribed names of the fallen.

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 Elvetham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Elvetham War Memorial was built by Mardles of Fleet. It was unveiled on 22 April 1922 by Sir Somerset Arthur Gough Calthorpe (1864–1937), who was the Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth and the dedication was performed by the Bishop of Winchester.

The memorial commemorates the 17 names of those who lost their lives in the First World War. The names of seven men who fell in the Second World War were added at a later date on an additional panel.

In 2012 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Elvetham War Memorial, unveiled on 22 April 1922, 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;
* Architectural interest: an elegant lantern cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with Elvetham Hall Registered Park and Garden (Grade II) and the church of St Mary (Grade I).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678153

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings