Summary

First World War memorial, designed by C E Kempe and Co of London and unveiled on 19 September 1920 with further inscriptions added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: Clipsham limestone.

DESCRIPTION: Highbrook War Memorial is located in the churchyard of All Saint’s Church (Grade II) in Highbrook, West Sussex. It comprises a lantern cross with carved decorative tracery and an IHS in raised lettering on one face and a carved picture of Christ on the cross on the other. It rises from a slender octagonal tapering shaft which is set upon a hexagonal plinth on a two-stepped hexagonal base.

The inscription is incised into three sides of the plinth and the other faces are incised with the names of the fallen. The inscription reads: REMEMBER YE WITH/ THANKSGIVING AND/ HONOUR BEFORE GOD/ AND MAY THESE MEN/ OF HIGHBROOK WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

The Second World War inscription reads: 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 5 December 2016.

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

Highbrook War Memorial was designed by C E Kempe and Co of London and dedicated on 19 September 1920 by the Rural Dean and unveiled by Miss Grace Clarke. The memorial was raised by public subscription and commemorates 15 local servicemen who fell in the First World War.

The name of one who fell in the Second World War was added after that conflict.

In 2015 the memorial was conserved with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Highbrook War Memorial 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 in Clipsham limestone with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with All Saint’s Church (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478121

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

• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair