Memorial details

Memorial type
Park / Sports field
District
West Oxfordshire
Town
Witney
County
Oxfordshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
63645

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Current location

The Leys
Witney
West Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
OX28 4AW
England

OS Grid Ref: SP 35612 09168
Denomination: Undefined

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Description
Recreation ground comprising two grassed areas and an avenue of trees. Dedicatory tablet mounted on southern end of wall by the thoroughfare passing alongside St Mary's Church. Tablet faces south towards the recreation ground. Tablet has carved decoration of wreath, branches and flowers. Leaded inscription. The avenue of lime trees lead from the town towards the location of the former Witney Railway Station - a route many would have taken on their way to war. The annual Witney Feast is held on the smaller grassed area. In 2018, a First World War Centenary Memorial was erected on the western side consisting of a small garden with several features. A central stone pillar has an inscription on two sides and two plaques (Merchant Navy and Centenary Fields) mounted onto the third. Two curved pillars have a mosaic design featuring the opening line of 'In Flanders Fields' poem, three cap badges and the professions of Witney soldiers. A remembrance bench is situated beneath an arch which is of a similar design to one that used to illuminate the original tablet. A tommy silhouette with engraved shell at his feet. A small information board provides further detail.
Inscription
Original tablet: THE CHURCH LEYS/ WAS PURCHASED IN 1920 AS/ A PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND/ OUT OF FUNDS SUBSCRIBED BY/ THE INHABITANTS OF WITNEY/ IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918 Pillar side 1: THE INHABITANTS OF/ WITNEY/ REMEMBER/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-18/ 100 YEARS/ 1918 - 2018/ LEST WE FORGET Pillar side 2: THE "CHURCH LEYS"/ WAS PURCHASED IN 1920 AS/ A PUBLIC RECREATION GROUND/ OUT OF FUNDS SUBSCRIBED BY/ THE INHABITANTS OF WITNEY/ IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Playing / Sports field
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
  • Tablet
    Measurements: height 1040 mm, width 780 mm
    Materials: Undefined
  • Garden
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • Pillar
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Cotswold
  • Pillar
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • Pillar
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
  • Seat
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
  • Arch
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
  • Figure
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
Listing information
Condition
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: In 1919 a fund was started to raise money for a war memorial and cottage hospital. Plans for the hospital, which was to have been on part of the cricket field in Newland, were abandoned because of escalating costs. Instead some of the money was used to bu
Sponsorship
Public

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-63645

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