Tenterden War Memorial

First World War memorial, designed by the architect, W Wrigley Diggle of London and dedicated in 1920. A Second World War dedication was subsequently added.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DETAILS: the memorial consists of a square-section shaft set on a square plinth supported on four octagonal steps. The shaft is topped by a stylised lantern with two lozenge-shaped panels bearing the Arms of Tenderden and the Crest of the County of Kent respectively in relief. On each face of the shaft are panels representing stylized spears pointing to the plinth. The front face of the square plinth bears a panel with an angelic head with outstretched wings in relief and below an inscription reads ‘TO THE MEN OF TENTERDEN/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ DURING THE GREAT WARS/ LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED’. The names and rank of the 83 fallen are inscribed on panels on the other three sides of the plinth. The names and rank of the 26 fallen from the Second World War are inscribed on the same faces of the base of the plinth and top step. On the top of the plinth the dates ‘1914-1919’ and ‘1939-1945’ are inscribed on opposing faces.