Letchworth Garden City War Memorial

Station Place, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

War Memorials, First and Second World Wars. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1413410
Date first listed:: 09-Aug-2013
List Entry Name:: Letchworth Garden City War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Station Place, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1413410
Date first listed:: 09-Aug-2013
List Entry Name:: Letchworth Garden City War Memorial
Location Description:: NGR TL2173432717
Statutory Address 1:: Station Place, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Station Place, Letchworth Garden City, Herts

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Hertfordshire
District:: North Hertfordshire (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TL2173432717

Summary

War Memorials, First and Second World Wars.

Reasons for Designation

Letchworth War Memorial, unveiled in 1921, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historical interest: it is a moving reminder of the impact on the community of two World Wars, of the sacrifice of those who died and the suffering of those they left behind;

* Group Value: its simple but moving design is enhanced by its garden setting, part of the Grade II registered Broadway Park

History

Letchworth Garden City War Memorial was unveiled on Dec 11th 1921 by Viscount Hampden. It was erected as a memorial to the 145 men who died in World War I and was designed by Onslow E Whiting. The central wards of the hospital were also erected as a memorial, a reference to which is included in the inscription on the plinth at the base of the cross. A memorial to those who died in World War II is to the north of the memorial cross.

Onslow E Whiting (1891-1937) was a sculptor, silversmith, goldsmith and teacher, and was successful enough to have a house built for himself in Letchworth in 1905.

Details

War Memorial, First and Second World Wars; unveiled 1921; designed by Onslow E Whiting; constructed of limestone.

The Letchworth Garden City First World War memorial takes the form of a Celtic cross with a tapering shaft rising above a tall stepped plinth. The plinth stands on two square steps surrounded by limestone paving. The south face of the plinth carries the following incised inscription: THIS CROSS AND THE CENTRAL WARDS OF THE HOSPITAL ARE ERECTED IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN OF THIS TOWN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918. Above this, inscribed on the base of the cross is the date MCMXXI (1921). The names of those who died are inscribed around the other three faces of the plinth.

The cross is set in a small garden defined by hedges and backed by trees and shrubs, part of the Grade II registered Broadway (National Heritage List for England no. 1000908). Set into the hedge behind the cross, to the north, is a limestone screen with three bronze plaques inscribed with the 187 names of those who died in World War II. The inscription on the limestone plinth below the plaques reads: FOR HONOR FOR LIBERTY FOR RIGHT 1939+1945 SHALL THESE HAVE DIED IN VAIN? The limestone paving that surrounds the cross continues to the north to form a path connecting the two memorials.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 12 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/156623
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/1168

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.