Two Eastbourne war memorials listed by Historic England

The memorials, which are both now recognised by Historic England as worthy of Grade II status, were erected to honour the memory of those who gave their lives in the World War One.

They have been selected as part of a major effort to list the best of the nation’s war memorials, tens of thousands of which were erected across England after the war as a result of the loss of 750,000 British lives and the official policy of not repatriating the dead.

The best known of the two is Eastbourne War Memorial, on the Memorial Roundabout at the end of South Street.

This was designed by distinguished sculptor Henry Charles Fehr and was unveiled in November 1920.

It features a bronze figure of the Angel of Victory holding a sword and wreath and includes a bronze plaque paying tribute to local war dead in the Great War of 1914-18, with a matching plaque placed after World War Two to honour the fallen in that conflict.

The second memorial is at St Saviour’s Church, featuring a Calvary cross with a striking and ornate plinth and base. It was designed by local architect Colin Hay Murray, and was also unveiled in 1920 to commemorate 57 fallen local men.

Chairman of the Conservation Areas Advisory Group, Councillor Pat Rodohan, said, “Our stock of listed buildings is broad and growing, including not just residential accommodation but our station, theatres and the pier, and the recent addition of these war memorials extends our coverage into new territory.

“Eastbourne benefits from a stunning built environment and we are rightly proud of our commitment to conserving the best of our local heritage.”