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Memorial Title Alfreton
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Summary
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Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a war memorial sculpture at Alfreton, Derbyshire.
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Images
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Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image. Further images may be available on request.
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Locations
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Last known location: Roadside Market Place King St (A61) Alfreton Derbyshire
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Nearest postcode: DE55 7AG
NGR: SK 40916 55766 (From online digital mapping.) (Map opens in new window.)
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Location details: The memorial is on a triangular paved island at the junction of King St and Church St.
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Type
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Overall type: Sculpture
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Overall condition: Good. The inscription is legible and the memorial is cared for.
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Description:
A cast bronze sculpture on a limestone pedestal and base, with plaques bearing inscriptions and names.
The sculpture is of a soldier with his right arm around the shoulder of a young girl in a protective manner. The soldier is wearing WW1 infantryman's battle dress, with puttees wound up and tucked in at the knee, a steel helmet, a gas mask pouch on his chest and various ammunition and supplies pouches on his back and hips. In his left hand he is holding a rifle, complete with strap, and with the toe of the gunstock resting on the ground. The girls is wearing a short dress and long socks (one of which is down) and appears to be holding a spray of laurel leaves to her right shoulder with both hands, with the soldier's hand on top. The sides of the foot of the sculpture bear the initials of the sculptor and the name of the founder.
The sculpture surmounts an ashlar limestone pedestal, square in plan, with a moulded top and with slightly battered faces bearing several plaques on three sides. Each of the two sides bears an empty oval classical cartouche carved at the head. The pedestal has a moulded plinth and surmounts a square base with corniced edge to the flat top and three recessed panels on each of the 6 and 12 o'clock faces, the central one on the 6 o'clock face bearing in inscription incised in upright capital roman lettering. The two sides have buttresses against the base and extending a short way up the pedestal, the battered tops of which bear a carved laurel wreath and sword of peace. The base and butresses all surmount a moulded plinth.
The 6 o'clock face of the pedestal bears an upright oblong bronze plaque with the inscription in raised, mainly upright, captial roman lettering. The plaque has six fleurons around its perimeter and is surmounted by a cast bronze bound wreath. The 12 o'clock face bears two upright bronze plaques bearing the original WW1 names, a narrow horizontal plaque at the head bearing an inscription, and a narrow horizontal plaque at the foot bearing WW1 names added later, all in white upright capital roman lettering. The 3 o'clock face bears an oblong bronze plaque bearing the WW2 names and a small supplementary plaque bearing an additional name, again all in white upright capital roman lettering.
The memorial is surrounded by nine bulbous shaped metal posts with chains between to form railings mounted on stone perimeter kerbs. A nearby interpretation board outlines the history of the memorial.
Glossary
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Components:
Component |
Material |
Height |
Width |
Depth |
Condition |
Sculpture (figures) |
Bronze |
c1650 |
c1500 |
c1100 |
Good |
Pedestal |
Limestone |
c1800 |
c1200 |
c1200 |
Fair |
Plinth (to pedestal) |
Limestone |
c250 |
c1300 |
c1300 |
Fair |
Base |
Limestone |
c1000 |
c1800 |
c1800 |
Fair |
Buttress x 2 |
Limestone |
c1400 |
c600 |
c600 |
Fair |
Plinth (to base and buttresses) |
Limestone |
c250 |
c2400 |
c1900 |
Fair |
Sculpture (wreath) |
Bronze |
c340 |
c680 |
c40 |
Good |
Plaque (6 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
1220 |
765 |
30 |
Good |
Plaque x2 (12 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
1320 |
380 |
5 |
Good |
Plaque (top, 12 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
75 |
865 |
5 |
Good |
Plaque (bottom, 12 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
85 |
865 |
5 |
Good |
Plaque (3 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
860 |
930 |
10 |
Good |
Plaque (3 o'clock face) |
Bronze |
65 |
205 |
5 |
Good |
Railings (overall) |
Metal |
980 |
3100 |
3860 |
Good |
Kerbs (overall) |
Granite |
- |
3100 |
3860 |
Good |
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.
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Inscription
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9 o'clock face of foot of sculpture:
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3 o'clock face of foot of sculpture:
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Central panel on 6 o'clock face of base:
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PARLANTI FOUNDERS LONDON
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W.A. 1927
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LEST WE FORGET
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Plaque on 6 o'clock face:
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Plaques on 12 o'clock face (WW1):
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TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF ALFRETON WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 "LIVE THOU FOR ENGLAND WE FOR ENGLAND DIED"
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FOR KING AND COUNTRY
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LIEUT. R. A. ALCOCK DVR. J. ALLEN PTE. J. ALLSOP PTE. W. ANTHONY SIG. G. ATKINSON L/C. J. L. BALL PTE. T. BALL PTE. C. BAXTER PTE. G. E. BELFIELD PTE. N. BENTLEY PTE. T. BERESFORD CAPTAIN F. M. BINGHAM PTE. J. H. BRADFORD PTE. H BRADLEY CPL. J. BRADLEY PTE. S. BRADSHAW GNR. F. A. BREARLEY PTE R. BROWN PTE W. BUNTING PTE. J. BURNS PTE. F. H. BUXTON LIEUT. S. W. CLARKE PTE. E. CLAY PTE. F. COCKLE PTE. E. T. COOK PTE. H. T. COX PTE. J. D. CREESE PTE. F. DAVIS LIEUT. M. D. DRAPER PTE. A. ELLIOTT PTE. J. EVANS PTE. W. EVERILL REV. H. K. FINCH (C.F.) LIEUT. P. D. FORRETT L/C. G. FRANKLIN LIEUT. C. B. FURMSTON LIEUT. G. G. FURNESS PTE.G. E. GARRATT PTE. F. GOODACRE PTE. J. GREGORY PTE. W. GREGORY PTE. G. GREEN PTE. A. HARPHAM PTE. J. HENLEY LIEUT. T. P. A. HERVEY PTE. W. H. HOLLINGWORTH PTE. F. C. HOPKINSON A/M. A. HULL PTE E. J. HUNT PTE. W. HUNT PTE. J. E. HUTCHINSON LIEUT. S. F. HUTTON LIEUT. N. B. JACKSON PTE. W. JACKSON LIEUT. W. G. JACQUES A.B.-E. JELF PTE. J. H. JOHNSON PTE. J. JOHNSON
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PTE. R. W. JOHNSON PTE. G. KNIGHTON PTE. J. KNIVETON PTE. W. KING PTE. C. J. LAKE SGT. A. E. LATHOM CPL. C. LAWRENCE D.C.M. LIEUT. G. G. W. LEARY PTE. E. LINAKER PTE. W. LING PTE. J. H. MAISEY PTE. W. MARSHALL PTE. G. MARTIN PTE. R. MERRIMAN GNR. A. MOORE PTE. H. J. MOORE SGT. L. G. MOORE PTE. W. MOORE PTE. H. MOUSLEY PTE. F. G. NICHOLSON LIEUT. W. N. OUTHWAITE LIEUT. J. H. PARKIN DVR. A. PATRICK PTE. G. V. PEAT PTE. S. PORTER PTE. E. POULSON PTE. J. T. PRATT DVR. C. H. RADFORD PTE. J. RADFORD REV. E. O. READ (C.F.) MUS. H. A. REEVES PTE. F. ROBINSON CPL. W. ROBINSON PTE. A. E. SAUNDERS PTE. W. S. SHUTTLEWORTH PTE. J. W. SMITH RFLMN. H. SMALLEY PTE. A. STAIN PTE. J. SWEETING PTE. W. TAYLOR L/C. J. THOMPSON PTE. G. H. TROTTER PTE. R. TURTON PTE. E. TILLSON GNR. J. W. VALENTINE GDSMAN. A. WAGER PTE. W. WALKER PTE. H. WALTERS SGT. G. WARREN LIEUT. E. E. WATCHORN PTE. B. WEBSTER PTE. W. R. WEST SAP. J. B. WHITEMAN SGT. T. E. WHITEMAN LIEUT. F. G. WHEATCROFT PTE. B. G. WILLMOTT C.Q.M.S.-A. WILSON PTE. E. YATES
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ADDENDA PTE. J. W. CLAYTON. PTE. J. W. GENT. DRUMMER J. HALL. SAPPER W. HAYNES. PTE. L. ROWLEY.
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Plaques on 9 o'clock face (WW2 and post WW2):
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FOR KING AND COUNTRY 1939 ~ 1945
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SGT. A. BENTLEY W/O J. M. BINGHAM DVR. C. E. BRADBEER PTE. G. U. BRADLEY SGT. E. C. BREARLEY GNR. A. D. BROWN SGT. M. L. BUXTON R.A.F.V.R. PTE. S. DAVIS F/O. W. W. R. DAWES CPL. E. C. T. DOAR PTE. C. E. ELLIOTT LIEUT. DOROTHY GROOM A.C.2. A. HILL
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SGT. R. HILL F/SGT. H. B. D. JONES BOY TELG. M. W. KEY. R.N. PTE. A. LATHAM. SGT. L. LUCAS PTE. E. H. MARTIN GNR. W. MEAKIN L/CPL. A. PARKIN CPL. J. POWELL GNR. A. E. ROBERTS PTE. DOROTHY M. ROBINSON LDG. SEA. C. W. ROBINSON SGT. R. SEARSTON
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GDSM. D. SHAW FUS. M. SHUTTLEWORTH P.O. JOS. SLACK O.R. A. K. SPENCER L/CPL. C. H. SPIBEY F/O. G. L. TAYLOR GDSM. G. E. THOMPSON LT. W. TOWERS LDG. SEA. C. WALKER L.A.C. G. N. WEIGHTMAN SGT. B. WHITE SGT. J. WHITING LT. C. WYKES
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KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION J. H. WHETTON H. M. OLORENSHAW
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SIGMN. J. A. WALKER JAN. 22ND. 1954
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Conflicts and people named:
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Conflict |
First World War (1914-1919) |
Second World War (1939-1945) |
Second World War (1939-1945) (Civilians) |
Post 1945 |
Totals |
Action |
Unspecified |
Number died |
121 |
39 |
2 |
1 |
163 |
Number served and returned |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total names |
121 |
39 |
2 |
1 |
163 |
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Administration
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Custodian: Believed to be Alfreton Town Council
Local authorities: From WW1: Alfreton Parish Council; Alfreton Urban District Council; Derbyshire County Council. From 1974: Alfreton Town Council; Amber Valley Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.
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History and Conservation
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1927: The sculpture was executed by William Aumonier Jnr, sculptor of London, and cast by Parlanti Founders of London. (Because of the complex trading relationships of Alessandro Parlanti and his associates it is difficult to identify the actual foundry or artist involved, but it probably a product of Parlanti Founders of Winders Road, Battersea although Alessandro Parlanti had returned to Italy by then and was not involved with the company.) The cost was c£2600, raised by public subscription but with a single donation of £2000 from Robert Watchorn of Los Angeles, California, a native of Alfreton.
31st July, 1927: The memorial was unveiled by Gen Sir Horace L Smith-Dorrien GCB, GCMG, DSO, ADC, commanding officer of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) and dedicated by Rt Rev Dr Bernard Heywood BA, MA, DD, Bishop of Southwell.
30th June, 1929: The supplementary plaque with WW1 names was unveiled by Mrs J J Bingham of Alfreton
10th September, 1971: The Alfreton Conservation Area was first adopted: the memorial lies within it.
25th May, 1988: The memorial and railings were listed Grade II, Heritage List for England number 1109034.
July, 2007: The memorial ws rededicated.
2008-9: A proposal to add the previously omitted name of FO Jack Watson, who was shot down over the Adriatic on 9th October, 1944, was interrupted by ill informed objectors.
9th February 2018: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot. It was generally in good condition and well cared for although weathering has affected some of the carvings on the stonework, and slight spalling of the stonework is apparant elswhere.
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References
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Nottingham Evening Post; 7th July, 1927; p6: A report on funding and the forthcoming unveiling ceremony.
Derby Telegraph; 1st August, 1927; p6: a report of the unveiling ceremony.
Gloucester Citizen; 1st August, 1927; p7: a report on funding and the unveiling ceremony.
Nottingham Evening Post; 1st August, 1927; p7: A report on the unveiling ceremony.
Ibid; 1st July, 1929; p7: A report on the unveiling of the plaque with additional WW1 names.
Derby Telegraph; 1st July, 1929; p7: A report on the unveiling of the plaque with additional WW1 names.
Ibid; 30th July, 2007, p5; a report on the rededication of the memorial.
Ibid; 2nd January, 2008, p14; 8th January, 2008, p8; 14th November, 2009. p11: a debate concerning controversial objections to the addition of the previously ommitted name of FO Jack Watson, who was shot down over the Adriatic on 9th October, 1944.
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Comments
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A decade after attempts to add the name of FO Jack Watson it remains missing from the memorial.
Can you add to or correct anything on this page? Let us know.
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Page © Roy Branson
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