Mark War Memorial

The Mark War Memorial is a war memorial built around 1920. It is made from Ham stone and features complex carvings along with bronze memorial plaques. The design is based on Reginald Blomfield's 'Cross of Sacrifice' for the Imperial War Graves Commission. The memorial is shaped like a Latin cross with an octagonal shaft and cross arm, which has moulded octagonal terminals. The tapering shaft stands on an octagonal plinth in two stages, which is set upon two octagonal steps. A sword is carved in relief against the cross, and in Blomfield's original design, a bronze longsword is attached to the cross. While Blomfield aimed for a design that reflected the harsh realities of war without Gothic sentimentality, the Mark memorial incorporates Gothic elements in a subtle manner, featuring fleur-de-lys at the angles of the cross and engaged crocketed finials on the lower part of the shaft, along with a band of trefoils above. The western faces of the upper part of the plinth display the carved inscription ‘Faithful Unto Death’. The lower part of the plinth has two bronze plaques; the one on the west lists the names of those who died in the First World War, while the one on the east lists the names of those lost in the Second World War.