West Green and Tottenham War Memorial

West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 5ED

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

Overview

First World War memorial unveiled on 16 July 1922. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1440866
Date first listed:: 05-Dec-2016
List Entry Name:: West Green and Tottenham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 5ED

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1440866
Date first listed:: 05-Dec-2016
List Entry Name:: West Green and Tottenham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 5ED

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:: West Green Road, South Tottenham, London, N15 5ED

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Haringey (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ3258489251

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 16 July 1922.

Reasons for Designation

West Green and Tottenham War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified granite obelisk; * Group value: with the former Education Offices and Downhills School (Grade II).

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at West Green as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Harley Lionel Adrian Oswald-Hicks whose name appears on the memorial was the son of the Reverend Thomas Oswald-Hicks of West Green who had launched the campaign and chaired the War Memorial Committee in order to construct a lasting memorial to the sons of West Green. The money was raised by public subscription with much of it being donated by the local residents. The memorial was unveiled by General Lord Horne GCB KCMG on Sunday 16 July 1922. Thomas Oswald-Hicks formally requested Major P B Malone MP to accept the custody of the memorial on behalf of the District Council. Horne stated that the memorial was for the fallen of West Green and Tottenham. It commemorates 438 men.

It was situated on a landscaped West Green which was reconfigured after the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial unveiled on 16 July 1922.

MATERIALS: rough-hewn granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located on a landscaped triangular green and it comprises an obelisk set upon a tapered plinth upon a square two-stepped base. On the north face of the obelisk at the base is a bronze laurel wreath with its ribbon below bearing the inscription DEO but the rest is illegible.

At the base of the south face of the obelisk is the inscription in black painted lead letters on a polished smooth recessed panel which reads: TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS DISTRICT/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918. Below, the plinth carries the inscription: "THE CAUSE CALLED THEM, THEY WENT AND WON FOR YOU" followed by the names underneath in lead letters on polished smooth recessed panels. Further names are carried on the other faces of the plinth.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/199515
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/18000
West Green Memorial, accessed 21 Oct 2016 from http://tottenham-summerhillroad.com/west_green_memorial.htm

Legal

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