Arborfield, Newland and Barkham War Memorial

First World War memorial, erected in 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located on the north-east side of the main roundabout in the centre of Arborfield Cross. It is enclosed by sixteen two-foot granite posts supporting a steel rail on three sides with part of the front having a low chain link fence. It is constructed of granite with lead lettering.

The monument consists of a series of three steps on which is a roughly-hewn plinth surmounted by a Celtic wheel cross engraved with linear knotwork on the arms and wheel. In the centre of the cross there is a Chi-Rho symbol engraved.

The plinth bears inscriptions in lead lettering on three sides. On the western side is inscribed ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ PROUD AND GRATIFIED REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN/ OF ARBORFIELD AND NEWLAND/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919/ "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOREVER”’.

On the north and south sides are inscribed the names of those who died in the First World War. A further plaque was added to the western side at the base of the plinth which states ‘ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ARBORFIELD, NEWLAND AND BARKHAM/ WHO DIED FOR US/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945’. Under this is inscribed the names of those who fell in the Second World War followed by ‘AND 1914-1919 EE STURGES OF BARKHAM/ “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”’.