Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 5 December 1920, with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite.

DESCRIPTION: Horndon on the Hill War Memorial is located on the edge of the churchyard of the Church of St Peter and St Paul. It consists of a wheel-head cross on top of a tapering shaft and with a Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief on the front face. The shaft rises from a square plinth on a single-stepped base.

The inscription is in painted lead lettering on the polished smooth front face of the plinth and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS VILLAGE/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.

The Second World War names have been added on a plaque at the base of the shaft preceded by 1939 – 1945.

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 unveiled at Horndon on the Hill on 5 December 1920 by Col F Hilder MP. It commemorates 14 local servicemen who fell during the First World War. 

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 11 fallen of that conflict.

Work was undertaken to the memorial in 2014, following which it was re-dedicated by Branch Chaplin Rev S Blake.

Reasons for Listing

Horndon on the Hill 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 this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a striking granite wheel-head cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478295

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide