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Amersham Memorial Gardens (World War I cross)

The war memorials in the market town of Amersham in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire stand within the War Memorial Gardens on the Broadway. The World War I memorial is a Portland stone cross fleury crucifix, with fleur-de-lys style crockets around the arms of the cross. The cross stands on a pillar with a moulded top and decorative carving running vertically down the shaft. The pillar is supported by a plinth and a two-stepped base, the lower of which has blind tracery around the riser. There are Gothic script inscriptions on the plinth, carved and filled with lead. The memorial is set within a lowered paved area surrounded by a stone wall.

In 2006/7 English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation gave £1,875 towards work to conserve both the World War I memorial and the World War II plaque (WM3569). The World War I memorial was cleaned, the joints raked out and re-pointed and dark lime was applied in the damaged lettering.

The inscription on the World War I memorial reads:

"To the glory of God
and in memory of the
men of Amersham who
gave their lives in the
great war for freedom"

Above this inscription, at the bottom of the pillar, are the dates AD 1914 -1919 and the names of the fallen are carved around the faces of the top step.

The World War I memorial was dedicated by the bishop of Buckingham on 10th July1921. It was moved from St Mary’s churchyard to its present location in 1949 when the memorial garden was laid out.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1818
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 8117

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

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