Summary
First World War memorial of 1920 designed Stephen Canning Day, with additions after the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial of 1920 designed Stephen Canning Day, with additions after the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Ventnor ragstone and Welsh slate.
DESCRIPTION: located on Park Avenue at the northern edge of Ventnor Park. It takes the form of a ragstone cenotaph set on a plinth flanked by tapered buttresses. The memorial stands on a three-stepped platform. On the north face is a carved stone wreath with OUR/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD incised underneath. Beneath this a recessed slate panel which bears the inscription TO THE GLORY OF GOD./ IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF VENTNOR/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES). A slate plaque on the south face of the memorial reads IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE MEN AND WOMEN OF VENTNOR/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1939 – 45/ THE SERVICES/ (NAMES)/ CIVILIANS/ (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 Ventnor 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 Ventnor memorial was designed by Stephen Canning Day and built by his firm, Daniel Day and Sons of Bonchurch. It was unveiled on 12 October 1920 by HRH Princess Beatrice and dedicated by the Reverend E Abbey Tindall. An additional plaque was dedicated on 30 April 1950 by Vice Admiral ARM Bridge commemorating 32 servicemen and 16 civilians, 11 of whom were women, who died in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Ventnor War Memorial 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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
Architectural interest:
* as a well-composed cenotaph monument built at an impressive scale.
External Links
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Recommended Books
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
For the Record
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version