Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War

Monument Types

• WAR MEMORIAL (Modern to Unknown - 1920 AD)

Full description

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From the National Heritage List for England:

Summary of Building

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War..

Reasons for Designation

Brasted War Memorial, set into the wall in front of the village hall, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: an elegant neoclassical shrine in the form of an archway; * Group value: with a number of Grade II-listed buildings in close proximity on the High Street. .

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Brasted as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on 7 February 1920 by Major Pym, commemorating 27 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 12 men and one woman who died in that conflict were added. .

Details

The war memorial is a shrine in the form of a neoclassical archway set into the front wall before Brasted’s village hall of 1910 (not listed), on the north side of the main road through the village close to the turning to Toys Hill. It has Portland stone ashlar columns supporting a broken pediment. Within, set in local Kentish Ragstone, is an elaborate Portland stone plaque, with a crown above and laurel leaf swags draped to the sides.

The plaque is inscribed IN HONOURED AND/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF BRASTED WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ 1939-1945 (NAMES)/ FAITHFUL UNTO/ DEATH. Photographs show how the plaque was extended downwards after the Second World War to accommodate the additional inscription. Beneath is a small projecting shelf support by a corbel, and brackets for wreaths.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 20 February 2017.(1)

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

Sources and further reading