Davenham War Memorial

MATERIALS: sandstone, metal railings.

DESCRIPTION: Davenham War Memorial is located at the junction of London Road and Hartford road, standing in front of Davenham Church of England Primary School (Grade II-listed). It comprises an equal-armed cross with a small wheel surmounting a shaft, square on plan. That stands on a tall, slightly tapered, pedestal. The pedestal is mounted on a large rectangular plinth with a stepped base.

The cross head is ornately carved with foliage patterns and the monogram IHS. The shaft bears a reversed sword. At the foot of the shaft a small roundel surrounded by foliage bears the dates 1914/ 1918. The principal dedicatory inscription is carved in relief running around the top of the plinth, reading IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THE/ PARISH OF DAVENHAM/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR.

The lists of the First World War fallen are incised into the faces of the plinth. The rear face includes an additional Second World War name. A stone plaque fixed to the front face of the base, carved with an ornamental border, is inscribed 1939 IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF 1945/ THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE / (26 NAMES).

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed by metal railings with a double gate to the front. The Standard Heads are equal-armed crosses, referencing the stone cross head of the memorial.

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, 26 January 2017.