Oakham War Memorial

The memorial stands in the churchyard to the south of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed). The medieval-style lantern cross is made of Clipsham stone, donated by J Davenport-Handley of Clipsham Hall. Standing c4.5m tall, the octagonal cross shaft is surmounted by an ornate lantern bearing carvings of the crucifixion, Madonna and child, St Martin dividing his cloak, and St George and the Dragon. The shaft rises from a two-stage pedestal that stands on a three-stepped, octagonal, base, made by a local craftsman, Mr Draycott of Messrs Draycott and Stimson of Oakham.

The upper stage of the pedestal comprises a square block with pronounced clasping buttresses to each corner and a wreath carved in relief on the west and east faces. Within the wreath on the west face the principal dedicatory inscription reads TO/ THE MEN OF/ OAKHAM/ WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR. The inscription AD/ 1914 - 1919 is carved within the wreath on the east face. The names of 17 men who fell in the Second World War have been added to the north and south faces of the upper stage. The octagonal lower stage records the names of 111 men and one woman killed in the First World War. A book by Mr G Phillips containing the names and biographies of the fallen, and their photographs that hung within the church, is recorded as having been placed in a sealed leaden casket within the centre of the memorial.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 20 January 2017.