Summary

First World War memorial. Wheel-head grey granite cross on a plinth with single-stepped base.

Description

MATERIALS: Grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Fring war memorial is located on a small green at the junction of Docking Road and Fring Road. It comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross with a reversed sword carved in relief on the front face. The c2.5m tall cross stands on a tapering plinth with a single-stepped base. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering. The dedication reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (6 NAMES).

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Fring as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was erected at the centre of the hamlet in commemoration of six local servicemen who fell in the First World War. The first name on the war memorial is that of the eldest son of Richard Dusgate of Fring Hall: it is possible that the memorial was commissioned and paid for by the Lord of the Manor.

Reasons for Listing

Fring War Memorial, which is situated on a green at the junction of Docking Road and Fring Road, 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 sacrifice it made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: a simple but poignant granite memorial cross;
* Degree of survival: unusually the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration and thus retains its original design intent.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478567

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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  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
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  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)