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Horley Boer War Lychgate

The Grade II listed lychgate commemorates three parishioners who died during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). It dates from around 1903 and stands at the southern pedestrian entrance to the churchyard of the St Bartholomew’s in Horley. It is constructed of an oak frame carved with Gothic-style tracery, which is supported on well-detailed plinths, made from Wealden sandstone, bath and limestone.

In May 2019, the Grants for War Memorials scheme, supported by Historic England, offered a grant of £5,270 towards repairing and re-roofing parts of the steep hipped roof as it is was in poor condition, with many clay peg tiles missing. The contractors retained approximately 50% of the original tiles. Works were completed in time for Remembrance Sunday and the grant paid in December 2019.

As outlined in the Application Form for a grant, the lychgate, built by Arthur Jennings, was damaged on 20th March 1941 by 2 bombs falling on Horley. The summary of the claim for damages to the church, to be submitted to HM Government, is included in the minutes of the PCC meeting on 11 June 1941. Although the lychgate is not specifically mentioned in the claim, it is assumed it is included in the cost of making good damage to the church itself. The total estimated cost was £4706 18s 11d, with further sums estimated for the Vicarage and High House. The only specific reference to the lychgate repair was found at the same meeting (11 June 1941) when the Vicar stated that he had given directions for the lychgate to be repaired. Whether this was to be a temporary repair or something more permanent is unclear.

PCC minutes for the 1940s (ref: 2082/6/3) found reference in the meeting of 2 April 1941 to a report of two land mines falling on Horley on 20 March, one falling opposite the lychgate and one a few hundred yards from the west side of the church. It seems that by 13 September 1950, all had been repaired, for at a PCC meeting on that date an estimate for the cleaning down and oiling of the lychgate was agreed.

The inscriptions read:

To the glory of God and in memory of our fellow parishioners who fell in the South African war 1899-1902

A W Carling, C C Sargent, and J T Turnbull

Vicar - H H Lewis M.A. Churchwardens - Bernard W Parsons. Frank E Glover

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM11456
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 87688

War Memorials Online: WMO/227599

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

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