Ampthill War Memorial, St Andrew's Churchyard

First World War memorial, erected 1921, with Second World War additions, probably including the shaft and cross head. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson and sculpted by John Daymond and Sons of London.

MATERIALS: of Portland stone.

PLAN: it is hexagonal on plan.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial faces south and takes the form of a Latin cross of which the shaft and cross head were added at a later date. It comprises a five-stepped hexagonal plinth on which stands an hexagonal pedestal ornamented with crenellations and blind trefoil arches. Above is an hexagonal shaft that rises to a crenellated knop over which is a Latin cross with fleur-de-lys shaped terminals at the end of each arm. The First World War dedication is inscribed on the south face of the pedestal and reads 'TO THE / GLORY OF GOD / AND IN / GRATEFUL / MEMORY / OF THE MEN OF / THIS PARISH / WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 / THEIR NAME / LIVETH FOR / EVERMORE'. The other five faces contain the names of the 69 men who died during this conflict. Below the First World War dedication, the Second World War dedication is inscribed on the risers of the top four steps of the plinth. It reads 'MAKE THEM / TO BE NUMBERED/ WITH THY SAINTS / IN GLORY / EVERLASTING', with the names of the 19 men who died being inscribed on the risers on the other five sides of the plinth.

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, 16 January 2017.