Summary

First World War memorial, dedicated 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

DETAILS: The memorial is located opposite the east facing entrance of Rake Village Hall (unlisted), standing within a small enclosure on the grass verge.

The memorial takes the form of a plain stone Latin cross raised on a tapering plinth, standing on a chamfered base, square on plan. It measures approximately 2.4m in height. The front (west-facing) side of the plinth bears the principal dedicatory inscription which reads, from the plinth to the base, TO OUR/ GLORIOUS DEAD/ 1914 - 1918/ &/ 1939 – 1945.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial is set in a square stone-paved enclosure* with three dwarf brick walls* to the north, east and south sides. Four stone steps* lead up to the memorial on the west facing side.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

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 at Rake 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 originally erected outside the village church, where a dedication service was held in 1921. A dedication to mark the Second World War was added after that conflict. In 2009 the Parochial Church Council arranged the relocation of the memorial about 400m to the north-east, to the village hall, following the redundancy of the church and its conversion to private housing.

Reasons for Listing

Rake War Memorial, which stands outside Rake Village Hall, 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 dignified stone memorial cross.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q55753854

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair