Wargrave War Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wargrave War Memorial |
|
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
 |
|
| For men from Wargrave killed in the First World War | |
| Unveiled | 28 May 1922 |
| Location | 51°29′58″N 0°52′22″W / 51.4993884°N 0.8726687°W Wargrave, Berkshire
near |
| Designed by | Sir Edwin Lutyens |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name | Wargrave War Memorial |
| Designated | 23 December 1983 |
| Reference no. | 1319107 |
The Wargrave War Memorial is a special monument in the village of Wargrave, near Reading in England. It was built to remember the brave soldiers from Wargrave who lost their lives in the First World War. A famous architect named Sir Edwin Lutyens designed it. The memorial was officially revealed in 1922. Today, it is a protected historical site, known as a Grade II listed building.
Contents
Why War Memorials Were Built
Remembering the First World War
After the First World War ended, many countries built memorials. This was because so many people had died in the war. It was a way to remember their sacrifice. Thousands of these memorials were built all over Britain.
Sir Edwin Lutyens: A Famous Designer
One of the most important designers of these memorials was Sir Edwin Lutyens. People called him "the leading English architect of his generation." He designed many famous monuments. These include The Cenotaph in London, which is a national memorial. He also designed the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing. This is the biggest British war memorial in the world. Lutyens also created the Stone of Remembrance. You can see these stones in many large war cemeteries.
Lutyens' Connection to Wargrave
Sir Edwin Lutyens was known for designing country houses before the war. Many of his memorial projects came from friends he knew. His link to Wargrave came from the Hannen family. Nicholas "Beau" Hannen worked for Lutyens for a few years. Lutyens had also designed a building for the Hannen family in Wargrave in 1905. This building is called the Hannen Columbarium. It stands in the Wargrave churchyard.
Building the Wargrave Memorial
Planning and Funding the Project
The people of Wargrave held a meeting on October 13, 1919. They decided to ask Lutyens to design a War Cross for their village. They also wanted to raise money for a hospital bed. Their goal was to collect £600. They managed to raise £500 within eight months. A man named Henry Bond gave a piece of land. This land was on the village green. The committee and Lutyens agreed it was a perfect spot.
The Memorial's Unique Design
Lutyens finished his designs by August 1920. The plans were approved in November of that year. The memorial stands on the village green. It is a single cross made from Portland stone. The cross has a long, narrow shaft. Its short arms are near the top.
What makes this memorial special is its shape. Unlike other War Crosses by Lutyens, it is hexagonal. This means it has six sides. This unique shape continues down the shaft and into the base. The memorial sits on four stone steps. These steps are also hexagonal. The lowest step is much deeper than the others. There is also a single stone block at the front that acts as a step. Because of its unusual shape, one author called it "the most distinguished of all of Lutyens' War Crosses."
Inscriptions and Unveiling
The base of the memorial has important words carved into it. On the front, it says "WARGRAVE / MCMXIV MCMXIX / MCMXXXIX MXMXLV". On the back, it reads "HER GLORIOUS DEAD / MCMXIV MCMXIX / MCMXXXIX MXMXLV". These Roman numerals stand for the years of the First and Second World Wars. The names of the soldiers who died are carved around the base. Over time, these names became worn. So, two stone tablets were added to the grass in front. These tablets also have more names on them.
The memorial was officially revealed on May 28, 1922. Field Marshal Sir William Robertson unveiled it. The Bishop of Oxford, Hubert Burge, dedicated it.
A Protected Historical Site
The Wargrave War Memorial became a Grade II listed building on December 23, 1983. This means it is an important historical site that needs to be protected. In November 2015, during the 100-year anniversary of the First World War, Lutyens' war memorials were recognized as a "national collection." Many of his memorials in England had their protection status reviewed and updated.
