Shaftesbury War Memorial

The Shaftesbury War Memorial stands on Park Walk in Shaftesbury, near Westminster Memorial Hospital and close to the boundary wall of the Grade II-listed Abbey House, and in the vicinity of the scheduled ancient monument of Shaftesbury Abbey. It is a tall cross constructed from Chilmark stone, with Hopton Wood stone panels. The cross is in an early medieval style, featuring elaborate carvings on the cross head. The western side depicts the Heavenly Throng, including angels, cherubim, the Virgin and Child, and an Archangel bearing the Last Trump. The eastern side features carvings. The cross shaft is decorated with the True Vine on the west and an endless chain interlace pattern on the east, representing eternal life. Intricate carved patterns adorn the remaining sides of the shaft.

The tapering plinth displays stone plaques with dedications and commemorated names carved in low relief. The plinth rests on a two-stepped square base and is enclosed by an ornamental wrought iron railing. The Borough arms are carved in relief on the rear of the plinth, encircled by a motto. The principal inscription reads "LEST WE FORGET"/ IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF SHAFTESBURY/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. A second plaque, angled on the top step of the base, commemorates those who made the supreme sacrifice during the Second World War (1939 – 1945). A third plaque, on the lower step, records the names of those who died in that conflict.