Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: granite memorial cross.

DESCRIPTION: Petersham War Memorial is located within the churchyard of the Parish Church of St Peter (Grade II*-listed). The memorial consists of a tall plain granite Latin cross standing on a plinth, square on plan. The principal dedication is incised on one face of the plinth, reading TO GOD ALONE/ BE THE PRAISE/ IN GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1919 1939 1945/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE. The commemorated names are recorded on the plinth’s other faces.

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 unveiled at Petersham on 26 September 1920 as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 16 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.  Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate eight who died that conflict, of whom two were civilians, a husband and wife who were serving as ARP Wardens.

In 2014 the memorial was conserved with the help of War Memorials Trust.

Reasons for Listing

Petersham War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Peter, 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 conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet poignant memorial cross;
* Group value: with the Parish Church of St Peter (Grade II*) and numerous churchyard monuments listed at Grade II.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q32945831

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

• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)