War Memorial On The Corner Of Mill Lane And Church Road

STEEP

1068/0/10040 War Memorial on the corner of Mill Lane 19-DEC-05 and Church Road

II

War memorial. 1918. Designed by Harry Inigo Triggs. Sandstone. Square pillar with slightly projecting upper section in the form of a gabled niche with moulded base and imposts; plain clay tile roof. The base of the niche has an inscription reading: 'In peace from the battle, Psalm LV 19'. The pillar bears a plaque of marble tiles with gold mosaic border and cross. The inscription on the plaque carries the roll of honour of Steep with 53 names. The niche is empty.

HISTORY: The war memorial was as a replica of a memorial Triggs designed in Sicily, and was erected as a war memorial within 21 days of the Armistice. This makes it a very early First World War memorial; and the earliest in Hampshire. The memorial was dedicated by the Rev MG Archibold, Rural Dean of Petersfield, and unveiled by Mr AB Trevor-Battye of Ashford Chase, on 6 December 1918. Harry Inigo Triggs (1876-1923) designed a number of buildings in the Hampshire and Surrey area, including other war memorials. He published a number of books on architecture and garden design and was influential, along with Harold Peto, in the revival of the Italian Renaissance style in gardens of the English Arts and Crafts movement.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: War memorials have very strong historic and cultural significance, on both a local and national scale. This unusual memorial by a notable architect and garden designer has additional interest as an early First World War memorial; the earliest erected in Hampshire.

SOURCES: 'The Hants & Sussex News', Wednesday 11 December 1918.

Listing NGR: SU7406225401

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 6 December 2016.