Summary

First World War memorial, designed by Harry Evans of Folkestone, and unveiled on 11 May 1921.

Description

MATERIALS: Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a tall floriated cross with carved collar surmounting a square tapering shaft set on an octagonal plinth. This is set upon a four-stepped base.

On the sides of the plinth are decorated oval bronze plaques which carry the inscriptions. On the front face the inscription reads: 'THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION IN MEMORY OF THOSE INHABITANTS WHO FELL DURING THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-18. IT ALSO MARKS THE SPOT WHERE A BOMB EXPLODED DURING THE GERMAN AIR RAID OF MAY 25TH 1917'.

On the back another bronze plaque carries the names and the regiments of the 46 men commemorated.

A further plaque commemorates those who fell in the Second World War.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 November 2016.

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, 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.

One such memorial was raised at Sandgate 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 location was purchased by the British Red Cross Society from the nearby Enbrook Estate and bequeathed to Sandgate Urban District Council who commissioned the memorial and the concurrent widening of the adjacent road junction.

The war memorial was designed by Harry Evans of Folkestone and built by Messrs Prebble and Spain. It was unveiled on 11 May 1921 by the Countess of Rocksavage and dedicated by the Vicar of Sandgate.

Following the Second World War, a plaque was added to commemorate those who lost their lives in that war. At the base of the memorial a paver was added in 2016, to commemorate the sacrifice made by Crpl William Cotter VC in 1916.

Reasons for Listing

Sandgate War Memorial, designed by Harry Evans of Folkestone, and unveiled on 11 May 1921, 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking granite memorial cross;
* Group value: with the Grade-II listed buildings opposite including the Fleur de Lis Public House opposite and 25, 27 and 29 High Street.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477909

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

• 
  For the Record
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)