Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Portland stone, bronze.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on Elm Green at the junction of Elm Green Lane and Bell Hill. The memorial consists of a c 7.3m high Portland stone Latin cross rising from an octagonal plinth on a four-stepped base. A bronze Sword of Sacrifice is fixed to the south face of the cross.
The south face of the plinth bears the incised inscription IN/ THANFULNESS/ TO GOD/ AND IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ DANBURY/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ MDCCCCXIV/ MDCCCCXVII. The names of the 24 First World War fallen are recorded on the north, east and west faces of the plinth. The south-west face of the plinth reads (7 NAMES)/ 1939 while the south-east face reads (7 NAMES)/ 1945.
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 Danbury as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 24 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Danbury War Memorial was unveiled on 31 July 1920 by Field Marshal Sir WR Robertson. It was built to the Cross of Sacrifice design which was devised in 1919 by Sir Reginald Blomfield (1856-1942) for war cemeteries abroad, although it was also widely adopted in Britain.
Reasons for Listing
Danbury War Memorial, which stands on Elm Green, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as an elegant and striking Portland stone cross.
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
Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)