Summary
Stone cross war memorial situated in the grounds of the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the Virgin.
Description
Tall stone cross atop a splayed plinth. The front face of the plinth formerly bore an inscription, however this has now faded almost completely; according to sources it read ERECTED/ TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF ROTHERHITHE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WARS/ 1914-1918/ 1939-1945. The memorial rests on a stepped stone base.
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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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 the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Rotherhithe 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 memorial inscription was later amended to honour the Fallen of the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Rotherhithe (St Mary the Virgin) 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 has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: as a dignified and imposing stone cross war memorial;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the Virgin, Grade II-listed Monument to Prince Lee Boo in the churchyard, and the Grade II-listed Hope Sufferance Wharf opposite.
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.
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