The Manners Memorial Cross and Peace Park Stone Plaque, Clovelly

The memorial cross stands on high ground in Peace Park, looking out to the sea to the east. It takes the form of a tall stone cross, octagonal in section, raised on a pedestal and deep four-stage base. The upper-most stage is an octagonal step; the stage below is a low circular drum; whilst the next stage is a deep, circular drum of coursed stone, the upper surface of which is finished with large beach pebbles. The whole stands on the lowest stage, a wide circular platform of coursed stone.

An inscription on the front face of the pedestal reads: TE DEUM/ LAUDAMUS. The principal dedicatory inscription incised around the upper-most drum reads: TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN MANNERS LIEUTENANT IN THE GRENADIER GUARDS THE DEARLY LOVED SON OF A DEARLY LOVED SISTER THIS/ CROSS IS DEDICATED BY CHRISTINE HAMLYN HE FELL IN COMBAT WITH THE GERMANS IN THE WOODLAND OF VILLERS COTTERETS FRANCE/ ON THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER 1914 AND LIES WITH HIS COMRADES OF A DEVOTED REARGUARD AT PEACE IN THE SILENCE OF THE FOREST. The drum is decorated with an incised peacock.

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A contemporary stone plaque set into a wall by the park entrance reads: MOUNT/ PLEASANT/ GIVEN TO THE/ NATIONAL TRUST BY/ CHRISTINE HAMLYN/ FOR THE USE OF THE/ PEOPLE OF/ CLOVELLY/ FOR ALL TIME/ IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE CONNECTED/ WITH THE PLACE/ WHO DIED IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 8 December 2016.