Summary
A pair of entrance gate piers designed as a war memorial and dedicated in 1920, completed in limestone to the designs of John Alfred Gotch.
Reasons for Designation
Islip War Memorial Park Entrance Gates are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a good example of the work of John Alfred Gotch, a well-regarded architect especially notable for his works in Northamptonshire.
History
The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Previously, memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, 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.
The memorial gate piers stand at the entrance to the village recreation ground which was laid out as part of the same commemorative programme. They are located on the high street, in the historic centre of Islip. It was dedicated in 1920 and the land was given by SG Sackville Esquire of Drayton House, located nearby, now called the Manor House, (Grade II, List entry 1040324). The piers were designed by the architect John Alfred Gotch (1852-1942). Gotch operated chiefly in Kettering and London, and was in partnership with Charles Saunders and Henry Ralph Surridge (their firm still exists as Gotch, Saunders and Surridge LLP). Their practice was responsible for several structures now entered on the List, including the Kettering Cenotaph (Grade II, List entry 1426574), and the church of St Mary, Toller St, Kettering (Grade II*, List entry 1051645). Gotch was the first president of the RIBA without a London office (1923-1925).
Details
A pair of entrance gate piers designed as a war memorial and dedicated in 1920, completed in limestone to the designs of John Alfred Gotch.
Description: Each pier is square in section and rises in two stages to a ball finial. Engaged pilasters to the side of each pier rise up the first stage and terminate in a console. Facing the high street on the first stage are inscriptions on each column, with identical wreaths above them on the second stage. The inscriptions read (left hand pier): THIS SITE/ WAS PRESENTED TO/ THE PARISH OF ISLIP/ FOR A/ RECREATION GROUND / BY/ S. G. STOPFORD SACKVILLE ESQ/ OF DRAYTON HOUSE AT THE CLOSE OF THE/ GREAT WAR 1914-1919, (right hand pier): THIS MEMORIAL/ WAS ERECTED & THE/ GROUND LAID OUT/ BY THE PARISHIONERS/ IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE/ NATIVES OF ISLIP WHO DIED,/ & IN GRATITUDE TO/ THOSE WHO SERVED, &/ WHOSE NAMES ARE RECORDED/ IN THE PARISH CHURCH.
