Northiam War Memorial

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 07/02/2013

1917/0/10067 22-JUN-10

NORTHIAM MAIN STREET Northiam War Memorial

II

War Memorial commemorating the Fallen of the First and Second World Wars, attributed to Sir Guy (Edward) Dawber (1861-1938).

The monument has an 0.28m deep octagonal base in brick with stone flag capping, surmounted by a two-tier octagonal stone plinth, totalling 1.25m in height. Above this is a Gothic octagonal oak column, 3.4m high by 0.5m wide and deep, and buttressed to half its height by four rectangular oak obelisks. These are braced to the principal column by tracery-enriched ribs. The pinnacle is a timber statue of St. George killing the dragon.

The octagonal plinth is inscribed with dedicatory lines and the names of the Fallen. Encircling the top of the octagonal plinth, starting at the south-west corner, with incised letters, the inscription reads: 'IN MEMORY / OF NORTHIAM / MEN WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES / FOR THEIR / COUNTRY IN / THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918'. Underneath the above inscription, in incised letters across all sides of the octagonal base, reads: 'YOUR LOT THE GLORIOUS PRICE / TO PAY / OURS TO RECORD WITH GRATEFUL / PRIDE / THAT FREEDOM LIES ON EARTH / TODAY / BECAUSE YOU DIED / 1939 - 1945 / (Names)'. The memorial lists the names of 33 men lost in the First World War, with the names of the eight lost in the Second World War added at a later date, along with the dates 1939 - 1945, as seen above. The names of the Fallen of the First World War are replicated on a tablet in the Parish Church.

HISTORY Northiam War Memorial was erected in 1920/21, at a cost of £400, to commemorate the Fallen of the First World War. Eight names were subsequently added to commemorate the Fallen of the Second World War. The memorial was designed by Sir Guy (Edward) Dawber (1861-1938).

SOURCES Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry for Sir Guy (Edward) Dawber (http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32748) accessed 22/02/2010

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION The war memorial in Northiam village, erected in 1920/21, is recommended for designation at Grade II, for the following principal reasons: * Social interest: an eloquent witness to the impact of tragic world events on this community * Historic interest: it has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context * Architectural interest: it is a well-executed, elegantly-designed war memorial of unusual wooden construction by a well-known architect.

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, 1 December 2016.