Summary
First World War memorial, erected in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, erected in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located on the north-east side of the main roundabout in the centre of Arborfield Cross. It is enclosed by sixteen two-foot granite posts supporting a steel rail on three sides with part of the front having a low chain link fence. It is constructed of granite with lead lettering.
The monument consists of a series of three steps on which is a roughly-hewn plinth surmounted by a Celtic wheel cross engraved with linear knotwork on the arms and wheel. In the centre of the cross there is a Chi-Rho symbol engraved.
The plinth bears inscriptions in lead lettering on three sides. On the western side is inscribed ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ PROUD AND GRATIFIED REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN/ OF ARBORFIELD AND NEWLAND/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOREVER”’.
On the north and south sides are inscribed the names of those who died in the First World War. A further plaque was added to the western side at the base of the plinth which states ‘ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ARBORFIELD, NEWLAND AND BARKHAM/ WHO DIED FOR US/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945’. Under this is inscribed the names of those who fell in the Second World War followed by ‘AND 1914-1919 EE STURGES OF BARKHAM/ “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”’.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw an unprecedented wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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. The war memorial erected at Arborfield Cross was unveiled in March 1920 by Mrs Stuart Rickman, formerly of Arborfield Grange.
The memorial was re-dedicated in 1948 with a further separate plaque to commemorate those who had died in the Second World War as well as EE Sturges who fell in the First World War.
The war memorial has been damaged by traffic accidents, and was eventually restored and relocated as part of the construction of the new roundabout in 2004. Its historic location is now the north-western side of the roundabout island.
Reasons for Listing
Arborfield, Newland and Barkham 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a large, roughly-hewn Celtic wheel cross engraved with linear knotwork
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
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings