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Latitude: 51.4831 / 51°28'59"N
Longitude: -1.0878 / 1°5'16"W
OS Eastings: 463440
OS Northings: 176415
OS Grid: SU634764
Mapcode National: GBR B3S.V3M
Mapcode Global: VHCZ3.3Z9D
Plus Code: 9C3WFWM6+7V
Entry Name: Pangbourne War Memorial
Listing Date: 26 February 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1452724
ID on this website: 101452724
Location: St James's Church, Pangbourne, West Berkshire, RG8
County: West Berkshire
Civil Parish: Pangbourne
Built-Up Area: Pangbourne
Traditional County: Berkshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Berkshire
Tagged with: War memorial
A war memorial cross of 1920 by artist Vera Waddington.
A war memorial of 1920 date by V Waddington.
MATERIALS: constructed of Portland limestone with brick detailing.
DESCRIPTION: a Portland stone wheel cross on top of a square shaft. The shaft rises from a stepped square plinth with brick detailing to the corners on a single-stepped base. The limestone panels between the brick are simply incised with the dates of the conflicts and the names of the Fallen. The south face of the plinth is inscribed IN/ PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF OUR PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1919/ GRANT LORD/ THAT WE MAY LIVE NOBLY/ AS THESE MEN DIED.
The 2017 works included restoration of the inscription panels and new paving laid around the memorial.
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 Pangbourne as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.
It commemorates 41 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 14 Fallen of that conflict. Subsequently, the name of a local soldier killed in Bosnia in 1994 has been added to the memorial.
Pangbourne War Memorial was designed by Vera Waddington, a local artist, although architect J Stanley Vaughan may also have been involved. Her design was accepted by the war memorial committee on 23 October 1919. The memorial was erected in September 1920 and was unveiled on 7 October 1920 by Major General T Waddington. A memorial window in the parish church was also dedicated on the same day.
The memorial underwent conservation works in 2017 with grant assistance from War Memorials Trust and through local donations.
Pangbourne 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 made in the conflicts of the C20;
* as a rare example of a war memorial designed by a female artist.
Architectural interest:
* as a well-crafted cross design in Portland stone and brick;
* the structure is unaltered except for restored detailing.
Group value:
* in the Churchyard of St James the Less (Grade II*) close to the Loveling Tomb (Grade II).
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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