Summary

First World War memorial in the form of a Calvary cross, unveiled 1921.

Description

The memorial is located outside the Church of the Holy Spirit, Narbonne Road and consists of a Calvary cross on a tapered octagonal shaft, which stands upon an octagonal plinth around which are two rows of Gothic-style inscriptions interspersed with symbolic decorations. The top row of the inscription reads IN EVER LIVING / MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF / THIS PARISH / WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN / THE WAR OF / MCMXIV XVIII the lower row reads MAY GOD / THE ALL MERCIFUL / GRANT TO THEM / AND TO ALL / WHO DIED FOR / THEIR COUNTRY / HIS LIGHT AND / EVERLASTING LIFE. The whole stands on an octagonal single-stepped base.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 in Clapham Park outside the Church of the Holy Spirit as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled on 14 November 1921 in a ceremony attended by the Bishop Suffragan of Woolwich and Major General Sir Cuthbert Wallace.

Reasons for Listing

Clapham Park 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Design: as an imposing and dignified war memorial in the form of a Calvary cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed Church of the Holy Spirit.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478387

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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