Fordingbridge War Memorial Gates

Summary

First World War memorial gates to the Recreation Ground, unveiled 1923, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Fordingbridge War Memorial Gates, which are situated at the east entrance to the Recreation Ground from Ringwood Road, are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* As an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;

Architectural interest:

* A simple yet elegant ensemble in the Classical style including ornamental iron gates and effective commemorative plaques on the gate piers.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also 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.

A number of communities opted for practical memorials to provide amenities for residents, such as parks and open spaces. A recreation ground was chosen as a fitting tribute to Fordingbridge’s loss of men during the First World War. This was inspired by Lady Hulse’s willingness to give £100 if the memorial formed part of a much needed recreation ground for the townspeople. A cricket pitch and adjoining field were purchased along the south-eastern bank of the Avon, to the south of the town bridge.

The park’s piers and gates were designed by Ernest Bird & Co Ltd of Southampton. Unveiled in April 1923 by Colonel L Park, plaques on the gate piers commemorate 57 servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 20 men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

The symmetrical gates form the access to the Recreation Ground from Ringwood Road. Each gate includes vertical bars and dog-rails, with ornamental work over the top rails. The gates are hung from stone piers, c3m tall, square on plan, with cornices surmounted by stone balls. Curved railings to each side, carried on a dwarf brick wall with stone coping, adjoin c2.4m tall end piers. Small flower beds fronted by stone kerbs fill the space in front of the two curving dwarf walls.

Each of the main piers carries a rectangular inscribed dedication tablet. The tablet to the left includes the principal dedication and 20 names; the right-hand tablet lists 37 names. The dedication reads: THIS RECREATION GROUND/ IS A MEMORIAL TO THE/ MEN OF THE PARISH OF/ FORDINGBRIDGE, WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR. 1914-1918. The later dedications to the fallen of the Second World War are incised below each of the First World War name lists, with 10 names recorded on each pier.


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, 8 June 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 25 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/161734/
Parks and Gardens UK, accessed 25 May 2017 from http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/9547/summary
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/63874

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