Summary
War memorial. Erected in 1948 by the Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington.
Reasons for Designation
The Stoke Newington Civilian War Memorial, Abney Park Cemetery, is listed for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: a dignified and poignant testament to the impact of Second World War bombing on the local community;
* Setting: it is a notable monument within Abney Park Cemetery, a Grade II registered landscape.
History
The memorial commemorates the civilians of the Borough who lost their lives due to enemy action in the Second World War, and specifically the 122 people who were killed in air raids in seven locations within the Borough: Coronation Avenue, 98 Green Lanes, St Matthias Square, Lidfield Road, Londesborough Road, Defoe Road and Hermitage Road, many of whom are separately buried within the cemetery. Ninety-seven of the individuals died in a public shelter beneath a block of flats called Coronation Avenue on 13 October 1940, which took a direct hit.
Details
The memorial is in Portland stone and takes the form of a wall comprising four panels set within a hollow-chamfered frame, surmounted by a raised rectangular panel with a central carved badge, whose inscription reads: METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF STOKE NEWINGTON / TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES THROUGH ENEMY ACTION IN THE BOROUGH DURING WORLD WAR 1939-1945 AND IN PARTICULAR OF THOSE WHOSE NAMES ARE INSCRIBED ON THIS MEMORIAL / DEATH IS BUT CROSSING THE WORLD AS FRIENDS DO THE SEA - THEY LIVE IN ONE ANOTHER STILL. The four inset panels have leaded lists of the locations of the air raids and the names of those who died. To the front of the memorial is an area demarcated by stone kerbing with internal areas for planting. Three shallow steps lead up the centre of this area towards the memorial; at the top is a ledge with a pair of simple stone flower vases.
End of official list entry
