Waverley Witness: Busbridge War Memorial Gets Grade II* Listing

Published on: 22 Nov, 2015
Updated on: 26 Nov, 2015

This is the third of an occasional column, the Waverley Witness, giving views and reports from that area, many of which we believe will resonate with, or be of interest to, Guildford Dragon NEWS readers.

The long association that architect Sir Edwin Lutyens had with Godalming has been further enhanced with the Grade II* listing of the Busbridge War Memorial.

The memorial which only recently was the scene of the annual Remembrance Service, is one of 44 First World War memorials scattered across England in city squares and public parks, to be upgraded.

The Busbridge war memorial is now Grade II* listed.

Historic England announced that all 44 memorials by Sir Edwin now have the protection of listing from Grade II to Grade II*

The architect of the Whitehall Cenotaph is no stranger to the Waverley borough which boasts some of his finest country houses – and gardens designed by his dear friend Gertrude Jekyll.

The lovely church of St John the Baptist in Brighton Road, Busbridge boasts one of 15 of his War Crosses. The crosses are characterised by a tall minimalist shaft and a very short cross arms. The church also boasts a chancel screen (1899) by Lutyens.

Busbridge was the home of the celebrated garden designer Gertrude Jekyll with whom Lutyens collaborated on a number of houses and gardens. He also designed three other memorials in the Busbridge churchyard (all grade II listed) and dedicated to members of the Jekyll family.

Busbridge church.

The upkeep of the memorial is something that Busbridge Church is keen to maintain and the rector, the Revd Simon Taylor, said: “We have been supporting Historic England and working alongside it for some time on our special war memorial. We have recently installed a disabled ramp which allows better access.”

Historic England urges communities to apply for repair grants for local war memorials.

The Cenotaph in Whitehall is Grade I as is the Arch of Remembrance in Leicester.

These beautiful and poignant memorials of which the Busbridge Church is so proud, vary in scale and design, each telling their own personal story.

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