Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

First World War memorial in Windmill Hill Gardens. Unveiled in 1922, with later additions for the Second World War.

Monument Types

• WAR MEMORIAL (Modern to Unknown - 1922 AD)

Full description

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From the National Heritage List for England:
"Summary of Building

First World War memorial in Windmill Hill Gardens. Unveiled in 1922, with later additions for the Second World War. .

Reasons for Designation

Gravesend War Memorial, unveiled in 1922, is 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: a well-executed stone memorial surmounted by a fine bronze statue of a winged Victory; * Historic Association: with another well-executed and listed First World War memorial in nearby Northfleet, also by sculptor Francis W Doyle Jones (Bevan's War Memorial NHLE 1391662). .

History

The memorial was unveiled by General Lord Horne in a ceremony on 11 January 1922 which was also attended by the Bishop of Rochester. The sculptor was Francis W Doyle Jones who was responsible for numerous other war memorials including nearby memorials in Gillingham and Northfleet. Doyle Jones' impressive Northfleet Art Deco war memorial being for the employees of the Bevan's Cement Works who lost their lives in the First World War.

The Gravesend memorial was damaged in the bombings of the town in 1940 and was then placed in storage. The memorial was restored and re-erected in circa 1949. An inscription was added to commemorate those who lost their lives or were missing in action in the Second World War. .

Details

The memorial stands within the Windmill Hill Conservation Area in Windmill Hill Gardens in the centre of a landscaped circular garden. Paths lead to all four faces, with four steps leading up to the front and three steps leading away from the back. The memorial consists of a bronze statue of a winged Victory holding out a laurel wreath in her right hand, standing on a tall square granite plinth standing on a larger square granite plinth, standing on a square two-stepped base.

The top of the plinth on the front face has a carving of a wreath with a torch in the centre. Beneath this is the inscription ERECTED/ IN PROFOUND AND GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN/ OF GRAVESEND WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ NOT ONCE OR TWICE IN OUR ROUGH ISLAND STORY/ THE PATH OF DUTY WAS THE WAY TO GLORY. Beneath this inscription are two columns of names and beneath this, on the lower plinth, is the inscription IN GRATEFUL AND ENDURING/ 1939- REMEMBRANCE- 1945/ OF ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED/ FORCES AND CIVILIANS OF THIS BOROUGH/ WHO FELL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR. Beneath this is the inscription HIS with a cross through the centre of the H.

Each of the other three faces has two columns of names inscribed on the plinth. On the back face, above the names is a carving of the town coat of arms with the inscription DECUS ET TUTAMEN."

<1> Historic England, National Heritage List for England (Index). SKE29372.

Sources and further reading