Monckton War Memorial In All Saints Churchyard

The Monckton War Memorial, built in 1918, stands in the churchyard of All Saints Church in Monckton. Constructed from Portland stone, it is a tall octagonal shaft topped with an ornate cross featuring elaborate tracery and carved terminals. Below the cross is a hexagonal moulded collar, and below this are four figures mounted on projecting plinths: a knight with a shield, a king, a warrior with a spear, and a Madonna and Child. The shaft rests on an octagonal plinth, which in turn sits on a three-step octagonal base. An inscription in Gothic script runs around the base, reading: "THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED AND/ DEDICATED 1918/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN PERPETUAL AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF MAIDSTONE MEN/ WHO IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THE EMPIRE/ 'TRUE LOVE BY LIFE TRUE LOVE BY DEATH IS TRIED LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND WE FOR ENGLAND DIED'.”

The memorial, erected by a prominent local family – likely Herbert Monckton, former Town Clerk of Maidstone – is a private memorial, uncommon for its time, commemorating the citizens of Maidstone who died in World War I. It features an inscription but does not list individual names. The designer is currently unknown, but the memorial was dedicated by Archbishop Randall Davidson. Its prominent setting in the churchyard, visible from Mill Street, contributes to its significance. The memorial possesses group value alongside the Grade I listed All Saints Church and serves as an eloquent reminder of the tragic impact of war on the local community.