Alton War Memorial

Alton War Memorial stands on the High Street in Alton, a market town in East Hampshire, southern England. It is a rugged stone cairn honouring local people killed in the two world wars, and it holds Grade II listed status.

What is the memorial?

The monument is a beehive-shaped heap of rough granite blocks. The War Memorials Online register describes the stone as Cornish and puts the weight at around 30 tons. A bronze panel carries the names of the fallen. The cairn went up in 1920, and the Second World War names were added in 1949. The registers do not name a designer.

The wording is brief: "Our Glorious Dead", the year spans 1914–1919 and 1939–1945, and the line "Their name liveth for evermore". A flagpole stands directly behind the cairn.

Is it protected?

Yes. Historic England lists it as "War Memorial Immediately North of Assembly Rooms", entry 1389298, Grade II, dated to about 1920. War Memorials Online keeps its own record under reference WMO/102973.

What else is nearby?

The register counts two neighbouring buildings as part of the commemoration: the former Mechanics Institute and the Assembly Rooms, today home to the Curtis Museum. Each has a dedication tablet on its wall. The Assembly Rooms plaque records the building being given to the town to mark the Allied victories of the Great War. You can take in the cairn, the tablets and the local museum within a few steps of each other.

Small modern touches show up among the rocks too, such as wooden centenary crosses and painted stones noted in condition reports.

How do you get there?

The address given in the register is High Street, Alton, GU34 1BA, in the middle of town. It is a short walk from the main shopping streets. Alton lies in north-east Hampshire and is reachable by road and by rail, so a visit works well as a stop on a day out in the area.

When should you visit?

The memorial is outdoors beside a public street, so you can see it at any hour and there is nothing to pay. It carries the most meaning around Remembrance Sunday and 11 November, when ceremonies take place across Britain. The museum next door keeps its own opening times, so check them before you plan to go inside.

Frequently asked questions

Does it cost anything to visit? No. The cairn is on a public street and open to view at all times.

Who is commemorated? Local people who died in 1914–1919 and 1939–1945, with names on the bronze panel.

How long should I allow? A few minutes for the memorial itself. With the Curtis Museum and a stroll along High Street, around an hour is plenty.

Is the memorial listed? Yes, Grade II on the National Heritage List for England, entry 1389298.