Memorial details

Memorial type
Park / Sports field
District
Derbyshire Dales
Town
Ashbourne
County
Derbyshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Opened
    Date: 1922
    Attended by: UNKNOWN
  • Presented
    Date: 12 June 1920
    Attended by: Col Hall DSO,Dr A Boswell
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
14386

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Current location

Memorial Park
Junction Of Park Rd (a515) And Cokayne Ave
Ashbourne
Derbyshire Dales
Derbyshire
DE6 1EJ
England

OS Grid Ref: SK 181 467
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
An ornamental park mainly laid out to lawns, flower and shrubbery beds and trees but with shelters and benches and also incorporating a monumental gateway on the frontage to the road junction. The sandstone gateway comprises a classical arch with ashlar side pillars and fluted columns supporting a frieze and shallow pediment. Low curved balustraded walls connect to terminal pillars on each side. The frieze bears the main inscription in upright capital block lettering in cavo rilievo and a central emblem of a Staffordshire knot on a winged wreath in relief. The main side pillars each bear a wreath in relief and a metal plaque, painted brown, with the WW1 names. The side pillars are each surmounted by a globe and bear a metal plaque, also painted brown, with the WW2 names. The opening of the arch contains a pair of decorative wrought iron gates painted black and gold. It was originally intended that a German field gun, captured by 6th Sherwood Foresters at Bellenglise in September 1918, would be displayed in the park and form part of the memorial. The gun was brought to Ashbourne and formally handed over to the council but it proved to be unpopular, was seized by a crowd and thrown into the lake. Its ultimate fate is unknown.
Inscription
Frieze: IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1918 Plaques: (Names) Terminal pillars: 1939-45 Plaques: (Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Alcock, R A
Atkins, F
Avery, H
Bailey, C
Barker, S
Barnes, J F
Bates, F W
Belfield, C V
Bennett, G W
Beresford, R H
See details for all 111 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 110
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 110
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname
    Order of information: surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 35
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 35
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: surname
    Order of information: surname
Components
  • Park
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Plant Material
  • Arch
    Measurements: depth 2350m, height 4200mm, width 6100mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Gates
    Measurements: depth 100mm, height 2320mm, width 3620mm
    Materials: Wrought Iron
  • Pillar
    Measurements: depth 700mm, height 1740mm, width 700mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Wall
    Measurements: depth 460mm, height 1270mm, width 2800mm
    Materials: Stone - Sandstone
  • Plaques
    Measurements: depth 10mm, height 1260mm, width 355mm
    Materials: Metal
  • Trophy / Relic
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Unknown
Listing information
  • WAR MEMORIAL ARCH TO PARK
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
8 October 2010: Right column has an old repair to the fluting. 14 February 1974: Gate arch listed Grade II, reference 79843 14 June 1920: Field gun seized by a crowd and thrown into the lake. 12 June 1920: Field gun formally presented to the council by the Sherwood Foresters.
Costs

Comments: Gates funded by Town Council and public subscription. Names were included for a donation.

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public,other
Reference
  • Carter Postcard Collection
  • Derby Daily Telegraph 2/ 15 June 1920 Editorial comment on the behaviour of the crowd throwing the field gun into the lake.
  • Derby Daily Telegraph 3/ 14 June 1920 Comprehensive report of the presentation of the field gun to the council and its subsequent seizure by a crowd.
  • Dundee Courier 3/ 14 June 1920 Brief report of the rejection of the field gun.
  • Derby Evening Telegraph 12/ 22 September 2011 Report on new book about Ashbourne's memorials, including photograph of the opening ceremony for the gates.
  • Local Publication/Booklet 2011 'They Are Not Lost, They Are Here' by Trilby Shaw, Horizon Editions Ltd. Contains history and biographies relating to this and other memorials in Ashbourne.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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© WMR-14386

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