Hoddesdon War Memorial

Summary

A First World War memorial with further names added following the Second World War and a subsequent commemoration of The Royal British Legion.

Reasons for Designation

Hoddesdon War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* it is an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community and the sacrifices made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural Interest:

* it is an imposing and well-designed example of a typical Celtic cross memorial, sited prominently in the marketplace.

Group value:

* it has a strong visual relationship with many listed buildings ranging in date and function, forming a group that is illustrative of the evolution of Hoddesdon through at least four centuries.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the largest 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: therefore, the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was proposed to commemorate the 158 residents of Hoddesdon and Rye Park who had lost their lives in the First World War. Situated in the Hoddesdon marketplace, the memorial was designed and executed by Messrs W Andrews and Sons, local stonemasons who had also been responsible for the Hertford Boer War Memorial (a stone panel on the Grade II listed Hertford Library). The memorial was funded by public subscription, which, by the time of the unveiling of the memorial on 10 April 1921, amounted to a little over £560. This was said to ‘just about clear the cost’ of its construction and erection. The iron railings surrounding the memorial, visible in 1925 and 1929 aerial photographs, appear to have been installed contemporaneously.

Unveiled by Viscount Hampden, Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and the Reverend C B Greaves, the ceremony included the Herts Territorial Regiment, the Herts Regimental and Broxbourne Silver Bands, the local Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, as well as a number of ex-Service men, local school children and townspeople. In his speech, Lord Hampden expressed his hope that those residents who mourned loved ones would be able to look at the memorial not only as a token of honour to those who fell, but also as a token of the future contentment and happiness of the people of this country for which they had fought. The first wreath was laid by Captain Christie of the Hertfordshire Regiment; forthwith, the steps of the cross were said to be ‘crowded with flowers’.

The base of the memorial was subsequently altered to incorporate the names of a further 72 individuals who had lost their lives in the Second World on three Portland stone scrolls affixed to the steps of the octagonal base. A fourth scroll was later added to commemorate The Royal British Legion. Revisions to the memorial took place in 2007 when erosion to the stone face had rendered some First World War names illegible; eight light-grey granite panels were accordingly installed over the First World War inscriptions, with the original names re-engraved and detailed in gold-painted lettering.

Details

A First World War memorial with further names added following the Second World War and later commemoration of The Royal British Legion. Designed and carried out by Messrs W Andrews and Sons.

MATERIALS: carved from Portland stone with later gold-painted lettering on polished grey granite panels. Painted iron railings.

DESCRIPTION: Hoddesdon War Memorial is located in the marketplace near the southern end of the triangular space in front of Hoddesdon Clock Tower (Grade II listed).

The memorial consists of a tall Celtic cross with a tapering shaft set on a two-part plinth upon a three-stepped octagonal base; it is surrounded by painted iron railings in which a gate is set. The memorial features carved details on the plinth and cross shaft, as well as a carved ornamental wreath around the horizontal and perpendicular arms of the cross face. The eight faces of the octagonal plinth feature eight light-grey granite panels engraved and painted with gold-painted lettering later installed over the original First World War inscriptions. The inscription on the south face panel reads ‘ERECTED TO THE/ UNDYING MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ OF/ HODDESDON/ AND/ RYE PARK/ WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945/ AND ALL SUBSEQUENT/ CONFLICTS IN THE SERVICE/ OF THEIR COUNTRY/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO/ MAN THAN THIS. The remaining seven faces of the octagonal plinth contain the 158 names of the First World War fallen. 72 names of Second World War Fallen are carved on three Portland stone scrolls affixed to the steps of the octagonal base. A further stone scroll commemorates The Royal British Legion, depicting The Royal British Legion crest and the inscription ‘WE WILL REMEMBER THEM’, with the date ‘01.01.2000’. The memorial is surrounded by ornate black-painted iron railings topped with gold-painted Fleur de Lis railheads; this forms an octagonal enclosure around the base of the memorial in which a gate is inset on one side.

Sources

Websites
Aerial photograph of Hoddesdon Town Centre, June 1925, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/record/EPW013324
Aerial photograph of The Market Place, Hoddesdon, 3 April 1929, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/aerial-photos/record/EPW025938
Companion to the War Memorials of the Borough of Broxbourne, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://david-crouch.com/exhibits/02602-buri(1917)-02-eng,hrt,cheshunt.pdf
Roll of Honour database, accessed 11 February 2026 from http://www.hertsatwar.co.uk/at-war/roll-of-honour/g-h/173/hoddesdon
Roll of Honour database, accessed 12 February 2026 from https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Hertfordshire/HertfordBoer.html#:~:text=The%20Hertford%20Boer%20War%20Memorial,plaque%20within%20a%20Gothic%20Arch.
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Memorial, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/41655
Hoddesdon War Memorial Including Rye Park, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://www.roll-of-honour.com/Hertfordshire/Hoddesdon.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 February 2026 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/82928

Other
Hoddesdon and Rye Park War Memorial, Herts and Essex Observer, Saturday 16 April 1921

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.