'The Cross': a hill-figure war memorial at Lenham

'The Cross' is a hill-figure war memorial located in Lenham, constructed in 1922 and designed by Mr. C H Groom. It was unveiled by Major-General Sir Arthur Lynden-Bell KCB KCMG DL JP.

The memorial is made of compacted chalk on a natural chalk base and takes the form of a chalk Latin cross carved into the south-facing slope of the North Downs, just north of 'The Pilgrims Way' trackway, overlooking the village of Lenham, Kent. The cross measures approximately 61.5 meters from north to south and 21.6 meters from east to west.

To the south of the cross, 27 meters away, there is a separate enclosure that originally contained a memorial stone. This enclosure is surrounded by iron railings set on low stone walls. Inside, six steps lead up to a terrace that features a wooden bench fixed to a concrete base.

A memorial plaque affixed to the gate of the railed enclosure is inscribed with the following text: "THE WHITE CROSS/ ON THE HILL/ COMMEMORATES THE DEAD OF THE TWO WORLD WARS/ THE MEMORIAL STONE WITHIN THIS ENCLOSURE WAS REMOVED TO THE CHURCHYARD/ IN 1960/ THE SEAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE PEOPLE/ OF LENHAM BY THE ASHFORD BRANCH OF THE/ REME ASSOCIATION TO COMMEMORATE THEIR CLOSE/ LINKS WITH THE MEMORIAL WAS PRESENTED/ IN 1977." (The last sentence is partly illegible.)