The Manners Memorial Cross and Peace Park Stone Plaque, Clovelly

The Manners Memorial Cross and Peace Park Stone Plaque is located on high ground in Peace Park, overlooking the sea to the east. The memorial cross is a tall stone structure with an octagonal shape, raised on a pedestal and a deep four-stage base. The top stage features an octagonal step, below which is a low circular drum. The next stage is a deep circular drum made of coursed stone, with the upper surface adorned with large beach pebbles. This entire structure rests on the lowest stage, which is a wide circular platform of coursed stone.

An inscription on the front face of the pedestal reads: TE DEUM/ LAUDAMUS. The main dedicatory inscription, incised around the upper-most drum, states: 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 also decorated with an incised peacock.

Additionally, there is a contemporary stone plaque set into a wall by the park entrance that 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.