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Selborne

The 14ft tall Grade II listed memorial in the village of Selborne in east Hampshire, at the very northern edge of the South Downs, is a wheel cross on an octagonal plinth. The plinth has a moulded top and base, and stands on an octagonal two-stepped base. The cross is inscribed with a pair of lines running parallel to the edges. It is made of Doulting stone from the Doulting and Ham Hill quarries in Somerset, and is located to the south west of St Mary’s church, on the boundary of church and public land. A dedication is inscribed around the top of the plinth and the names of seventeen men from Selborne who fell in World War I are recorded on three bronze plaques on the memorial. Two bronze plaques now record the names of the World War II fallen (see below).

In 2008/9 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation offered £1,310 toward work to clean the memorial, take down the cross, the shaft and the plinth and remove the rusting dowel and replace it with stainless steel one, replace decayed stone, carry out isolated mortar repairs and to re-point all the joints. During this time work was also carried out on the memorial to add an inscribed stone and plaques to commemorate the fallen of World War II, and to replace the flowerbed around the base of the memorial with an area of pea shingle. These two elements of the project were done with the knowledge of English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, but as they do not fall within the remit of this scheme no grant money was spent on these costs.

The dedication around the top of the plinth reads:

"To the honoured memory of the men of Selborne who gave their lives for their country 1914 – 1918"

The dates 1939 -1945 have now been added on a new piece of stone underneath the World War I dates.

The memorial was erected in 1921 from funds raised from public subscription. The fundraising efforts were carried out by the families of the bereaved. It was designed by William Caroe and built by D J Kemp of Alton and unveiled by the earl of Selborne on 27th March 1921.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM2348
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 21327

Heritage Gateway listing record: 494507

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

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