Summary

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

Description

The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade II-listed). Of Cornish granite, it comprises a plain Celtic cross set on a tapering shaft. That stands on a tapering rectangular plinth raised on a low, square, base. A reclining stone plaque is set in front of the plinth.

The front face of the plinth bears an inscription that reads IN MEMORY OF/ THE HEROES OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (4 NAMES)/ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”.

In addition, the plaque in front of the memorial bears an inscription that reads ALSO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES). All inscriptions are incised and painted black.

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, 25 July 2017.

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. One such memorial was raised at West Dean to commemorate four local servicemen. In November 1991 a plaque commemorating those who fell in the Second World War was added in front of the memorial. The memorial was refurbished 2003.

Reasons for Listing

West Dean War Memorial, situated in the churchyard of the church of St Mary, 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;
* Group value: with the Grade II-listed church of St Mary.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677668

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

• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)