Basingstoke War Memorial

The Basingstoke War Memorial is located in a small square on Basingstoke’s Civic campus, with the Grade II-listed Goldings to the west. Constructed from Portland stone, it features a substantial pylon topped by a tall figure of Victory.

The memorial is set on a broad circular platform with four steps. Each corner of the platform has a low pedestal, square in shape, designed to resemble intersecting barrels, with Latin crosses carved in low relief on the exterior faces. The base of the pylon is also square, with each face inscribed with the years 1939 – 1945, and a rectangular bronze plaque below it that lists the names of those who fell during the Second World War. Non-canonical pilasters with plain plinths and capitals adorn each face of the pylon, supporting a blank entablature. The pylon features round-headed pediments on each side, and a two-stage octagonal drum that holds a bronze hemisphere, upon which the figure of Victory stands. She is depicted flying forward, holding a wreath in her right hand and an olive branch in her left.

In the tympanum of the front pediment, the arms of the borough are displayed on a bronze plaque mounted on a stone shield. Below this, the entablature is inscribed with the dedication "IN MEMORIAM" in metal lettering. The front face of the pylon is decorated with a Latin cross and plinth, also carved in low relief, featuring the dates AD/ 1914 1918/ 1939 1945 in metal lettering. Large bronze panels are affixed to the other three sides of the pylon, beneath the dates 1914 – 1918, listing the names of those who fell in the First World War.