Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: Clent War Memorial is located within the churchyard to the west of the tower of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Leonard.
It takes the form of a stone wheel-head cross, which has a shield carved in relief to its centre containing the monogram IHS. The cross crowns a tapering octagonal shaft with a decorative carved collar and inverse chamfered stops to the base. The shaft rises from a slender four-sided pedestal with splayed foot, which surmounts a square plinth with a narrow, square block foot. The top corners of the plinth are moulded chamfers. The whole stands on a three-stepped stone base.
The principal inscription is to the front (west) face of the plinth and reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL AND UNDYING MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ ALSO TO THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945. To the plinth foot below is a verse from “The Supreme Sacrifice,” a poem by John Stanhope Arkwright, which reads THESE WERE HIS SERVANTS IN HIS STEPS THEY TROD/ FOLLOWING THROUGH DEATH THE MARTYRED SON OF GOD/ VICTOR HE ROSE VICTORIOUS TOO SHALL RISE/ THEY WHO HAVE DRUNK HIS CUP OF SACRIFICE.
The names of the 29 men who died in the First World War are listed on the remaining sides of the plinth. The eight dead from the Second World War are listed on the north and south faces of the plinth foot.
All lettering is incised.
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 Clent as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 29 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.
Following the Second World War eight names were added to the memorial to commemorate those who died in that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Clent War Memorial, which is situated in St Leonard’s churchyard, 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 conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* An elegant wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* With the Grade II*-listed Church of St Leonard.
External Links
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)
Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
Cornwall (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)