Summary

First World War memorial of 1920 with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

The war memorial stands in a prominent location beside the Church of St Nicholas on the main road through Pyrford village.

The memorial comprises a plain Cornish granite cross surmounting an octagonal tapered column set upon an octagonal plinth. This is set upon a three-stepped base.

Inscriptions and names are carved on the north faces of the plinth. The inscription reads: 1914-1918/ OUR/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD. Twenty-four names of those who lost their lives in the First World War are inscribed on two faces in black raised lettering. Further names are recorded on two of the west faces. The inscription reads 1939-1945 and underneath are 22 names of those who lost their lives in the Second World War. The other faces are blank.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 6 December 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 erected at Pyrford 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 was constructed by masons of the Necropolis Company based at nearby Brookwood Cemetery and it was dedicated on 18 July 1920 by the Bishop of Guildford.

Following the Second World War, the names of those who lost their lives in that war were also added.

The memorial was repaired in 2000 with additional granite laid around base to stabilise it.

Reasons for Listing

Pyrford 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 simple yet dignified Cornish granite cross;
* Group value: with the adjacent church of St Nicholas (Grade I).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26677865

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

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  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
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  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
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  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)