Mere War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: this memorial is located in The Square at the centre of the town. It is in close proximity to various Grade II listed buildings including the Clock Tower to the west.

The memorial takes the form of a stone Latin cross with elaborately carved square capped arms; sculpted points project at an angle from the centre of the cross between the cross arms. The cross-head is above a moulded collar atop a tapering octagonal shaft with chamfered stops and a square foot. This rises from a chamfered square plinth, which is also curved to the top corners. The plinth surmounts a four-stepped octagonal base.

INSCRIPTION: the inscriptions and names are on plaques of white-coloured stone in leaded lettering. The main inscription is on a plaque affixed to the east face of the plinth and reads, 1914 – 1919/ THEIR NAME/ LIVETH FOR/ EVERMORE. The names of 48 parishioners who died in the First World War are on plaques affixed to the three other faces of the plinth.

An additional inscription is to a stone plaque affixed to the east face of the uppermost step of the base and reads, 1939 – 1945. The names of the 12 parishioners who died during the Second World War are recorded on plaques to the south-east and north-east faces of the uppermost step of the base.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed by eight modern metal posts with a chain hung between each one.

• Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.