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Histon and Impington

The memorial commemorating the fallen of Histon and Impington, entwined villages just to the north of Cambridge, is a tapering limestone column surmounted by a wheel cross and standing on an octagonal plinth and a two-stepped base on a concrete apron. The wheel of the cross is formed by a carved wreath. Around the plinth are shallow recessed panels headed by three foiled cusped arches. They are inscribed with a dedication and the names of the fallen of two world wars; above the panel with the dedication a laurel wreath is carved in low relief in the cusp. The memorial stands on Water Lane, in the tarmaced section of a grassed area surrounded by rosebeds.

In January 2002 English Heritage offered a grant of £2275 towards work to clean the memorial and the concrete apron of biological growth with spatulas, natural bristle brushes, biocide and water and to remove black oil-based paint from the lettering on the memorial before an assessment of the condition of the lettering and consolidation of the lettering being carried out where necessary. Some of the lettering was re-cut to increase legibility and the letters re-painted grey in sympathy with the weathered look of the memorial. Defective joints were raked out and re-pointed with a hydraulic lime mortar and mortar repairs with lime putty were undertaken to other areas where water may have been able to gain ingress. Any areas of crumbling stone found during this process were consolidated and rebuilt in lime mortar. On completion of the repair work a protective shelter coat was applied to the monument.

On the front face of the memorial, the bottom of the column is inscribed with the words

Lest we forget

The dedication on the plinth records that

This memorial
was erected by the inhabitants
of Histon and Impington
in remembrance of the men
of these parishes who died
for their country
and the freedom of nations

The Great War
1914 – 1918

Below this inscription, on the top step, is a quotation from the funeral oration given by Pericles to the Athenians on the occasion of a burial of the dead during the Peloponnesian wars.

When the power of the city
shall seem that great unto you consider then
that it was purchased by valiant men
and by men who knew their duty

The memorial was designed and made by Fred Baccus, sculptor and monumental mason of Histon. It was originally unveiled on 21st November 1920 and after the conservation work was completed a rededication service was held on Sunday 1st September 2002.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM1284
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 8418

The memorial is listed building number 488050.

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

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