War Memorial East of Dulwich College

Reasons for Designation

The War Memorial at Dulwich College, College Road in Dulwich is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural Interest: a good example of a memorial to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars; * Historic Significance: the monument has very strong historic and cultural significance, on both a local and national scale; * Group Value: the War Memorial has a strong visual and contextual relationship with a number of listed buildings at Dulwich College.

Details

636-1/0/10142 COLLEGE ROAD
19-MAY-10 Dulwich
War memorial east of Dulwich College

GV II
War Memorial to the memory of 'Old Alleynians' and 'Alleyn Old Boys' who fell in the First World War, constructed in 1920 and attributed to WH Atkin-Berry, a former pupil of the college; also two plinths commemorating those who fell in the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: It comprises an octagonal Portland stone memorial cross on an octagonal pedestal surmounting a further substantial octagonal pedestal with bronze panels to each face. All is situated on three octagonal tiered steps, totalling over 9m in height.

The Coat of Arms of the College is mounted on the bronze plaque on the western face of the upper tier. The words 'MORTUI VIVUNT' appear, in relief, on the western face of the bottom tier above a bronze plaque bearing a laurel wreath and the words 'PUERI / ALLEYNIENSES / MCMXIV - MCMXIX'. The remaining seven bronze panels contain the 485 names (481 pupils and 4 masters) who fell in the First World War, with additional names on a small bronze plaque on the eastern face of the top step. Embellishment is minimal, with scrolled leaves on the cross, diamond enhanced architraves to the panels of the bottom tier, and fluted moulding to the base of the pedestal.

Two Portland stone table plinths, to the northern and southern sides of the principal monument, commemorate the 352 fallen of the Second World War. The decoration of these echoes that of the earlier monument, in that the simple inscription '1939-1945' can be found above bronze plaques, bearing the names of the fallen, on the eastern and western sides of both plinths, and the panels are edges with the same diamond pattern architrave.

The War Memorial stands in the grounds of Dulwich College, and has a visual and contextual relationship with Dulwich College Main Building (Grade II*) and the Entrance Gates and piers of Dulwich College (Grade II).

HISTORY: Dulwich College was founded by Edward Alleyn in 1619. The original college buildings at Dulwich Old College date from the C17, although they were extensively remodelled in the C19; in 1857 the old foundation was reformed, and new buildings were erected for the school by the younger Charles Barry in 1866-70 at the present location, approximately half a mile from Dulwich Old College.

The Dulwich College War Memorial was designed by Mr WH Atkin-Berry FRIBA, a former pupil of the College and unveiled by another former pupil Major General Sir Webb Gillman (1870-1933) on Founders' Day, 17th June 1921. Originally, the memorial stood on a pavement de-marked by four square bollards. However, when the plinths recording the fallen of the Second World War were erected, the pavement was extended and the bollards removed.

The names of The Fallen of the First World War filled the memorial and instead of erecting a second memorial, to those who fell in the second World War, two table plinths were erected flanking the primary monument. Originally, the memorial stood on a pavement de-marked by four square bollards. However, when the plinths recording The Fallen of the Second World War were erected, the pavement was extended and the bollards removed. It was decided that 'the College War memorial should take the form of a new Great Hall, which will seat the whole school, and there can be no more worthy object than this memory to those who gave their lives in the War. The target aimed at is £50,000 contribution towards which will be welcomed'. At the same time two books known as the "Dulwich College War Record" were published, and in them are the portraits and biographies of all who fell, a list of Honours and Distinctions, and a Roll of over 3000 men associated with the College who served in the forces.

There is also a war memorial at the Old College building.

SOURCES:
McCulloch, C. Dulwich College War Record 1914-1919 (1923)
Kernot, CF. British Public Schools War Memorials (1927)
McCulloch, C. Dulwich College War Record 1939-1945 (1949)

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION
The War Memorial at Dulwich College, College Road in Dulwich is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural Interest: a good example of a memorial to The Fallen of the First and Second World Wars;
* Historic Significance: the monument has very strong historic and cultural significance, on both a local and national scale;
* Group Value: the War Memorial has a strong visual and contextual relationship with a number of listed buildings at Dulwich College.

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, 17 February 2017.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

508022

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/12610
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/111134

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.