Summary

First World War memorial.

Description

First World War memorial.

DESCRIPTION: Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial is located between the north-west corner angle buttresses of Christ Church (Grade II-listed), on a raised area of hard-standing.

It consists of a stone Celtic wheel-head cross with a four-sided shaft rising from a three-stepped base. The cross-head has decorative carved knot work to the arms and a circular emboss to the centre; the wheel has three circular embosses to each segment. The north-west face of the shaft carries the names of the dead, including their rank and regiment. All lettering is incised and painted black.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed to either side within the angle buttresses of the church and stands within a small, curved area of raised hard-standing. A band of brick kerbing surmounted by modern, metal railings* denotes the north-western boundary.

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.

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 Christ Church in Hampstead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 18 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict. 

The top of the shaft suffered damaged at some point and this was repaired by 2015.

Reasons for Listing

Christ Church (Hampstead) War Memorial, which is situated outside Christ Church, 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* A well-executed Celtic wheel-head cross memorial.

Group Value:

* With the Grade II-listed Christ Church.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479091

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

• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version