Summary

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

Description

The war memorial, approximately 5m tall, is constructed entirely of stone. It consists of an ornate wheel-head cross decorated with floral carvings, with a rose at the cross axis. The cross is set on an octagonal shaft that is raised on an octagonal plinth which features a moulded base.

The inscription carved on the main face of the plinth reads THE/ MEN OF LONG DITTON/ WHOM THIS CROSS/ COMMEMORATES LEFT AT/ THE CALL OF KING AND/ COUNTRY ALL THAT/ WAS DEAR TO THEM/ ENDURED HARDNESS/ FACED DANGER AND/ FINALLY PASSED OUT/ OF THE SIGHT OF MEN/ BY THE PATH OF DUTY/ AND SELF-SACRIFICE/ GIVING UP THEIR OWN/ LIVES THAT OTHERS/ MIGHT LIVE IN FREEDOM.

The other sides of the plinth bear dates and lists of names. The plinth stands on an octagonal three-stepped base. An incised dedication on the upper step of the base reads LET THOSE WHO LIVE AFTER SEE TO IT/ THAT THEIR NAMES NOT BE FORGOTTEN, and on the middle step THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LONG DITTON WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR OF 1939-1945.

The memorial stands in a paved area within a small memorial garden. The garden is defined by a low brick wall and a chain carried on wooden posts.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 5 December 2016.

History

Long Ditton Memorial Cross is dedicated to the 74 men from the village who lost their lives during the First World War. A further dedication was added to the steps of the memorial, commemorating those who lost their lives during the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Long Ditton Memorial Cross, which stands at the junction of Ditton Hill and Church Road, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reason:
* 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 C20.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677301

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]