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Westerham

This limestone war memorial standing approximately 5 metres in height comprises a decorative cross surmounting an octagonal shaft capped with a four carved angel heads. This is set on a plinth with carved swags, cherub heads and festoons of carved laurels, and is set on a two-stepped base. The floriated cross is surmounted by a carved pelican, the symbolic bird of sacrifice, feeding the young fledglings with its own blood. The cross is carved from Clipsham, a Rutlandshire stone. The plinth carries incised inscriptions including the names of the fallen from both WWI and WWII and a shield bearing the sacred monogram I.H.S. The stone paving at the base of the memorial is understood to be salvaged from the base of an ancient churchyard cross. The memorial is located in the grounds of St Mary’s churchyard in Weterham.

In 2016 War Memorials Trust offered a grant of £3,710 towards the undertaking of conservation works to clean the memorial using the DOFF steam cleaning system. In addition, loose and failing mortar was raked-out from the memorial's joints which were repointed using a lime mortar. Stonework repairs to the shaft were carried out using lime mortar and the stone paving was carefully lifted and reset and repointed in lime mortar. One wing of the carved pelican was found to be damaged and so this feature was re-carved and reinstated to match the original design. The incised lettering on the base was repainted in black acrylic paint. 

A war memorial committee was formed in early 1919 and the proposals for a war memorial were aired at a public meeting in April 1919 at which the erection of a cross was determined. The memorials sculptor was Mr W D Gough of Kennington and was the design of Mr J N Gompe of Norwood. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 15th August 1920 replacing a temporary war shrine which had been placed near the church in the final years of World War I. The unveiling was conducted by Lord Stanhope of Chevening and the service was led by the Bishop of Rochester.

The inscription reads:

To The Men of Westerham Who Gave Their Lives in The Great War 1914 - 1918 and 1939 – 1945

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM570
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 16107

War Memorials Online: 107807

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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