Memorial Title

Derby - Composite

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a composite war memorial in the Market Place, Derby.

Images

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Further images may be available on request.

Locations

Last known location: Paved pedestrien area Market Place Derby.	Nearest postcode: DE1 3AE NGR: SK 35295 36323. (From online digital mapping.) (Map opens in new window.)	Location details: On the south side of the Market Place, near the entrance to the Guildhall.

Previous location: Roadside Market Place Derby.	Nearest postcode: DE1 3AE NGR: SK 35284 36317. (From online digital mapping.) (Map opens in new window.)	Location details: On the south side of the central island in the Market Place, opposite the entrance to the Guildhall.

Type

Overall type: Composite

Overall condition: Fair. The inscription is legible and the memorial is cared for.

Description:

A sandstone ashlar monument comprising a wall with projecting cross on a pedestal and three-stepped base, with a cast bronze figure and other features.

The original three-stepped base comprised shallow steps with stepped and rounded corners but that was replaced by a base with deeper steps with canted corners. Later, rows of bronze studs were affixed to the upper face of each step. The upper surface of the top step has recesses normally containing flower beds but in November the flowers are replaced by turf to form plots for the placement of remembrance cross and other tributes.

The two-stepped pedestal is T-shaped in plan. It originally had an unknown inscription at the top of the 6 o'clock face but that has now been covered by an oblong tablet bearing the WW1 inscription. The WW2 inscription is directly on the face of the lower step and both inscriptions are incised in upright capital roman lettering. The 12 o'clock face originally had no inscriptions or ornamentation but now bears two bronze plaques bearing the post 1945 and civilian inscriptions in raised upright capital roman lettering.

From the 'crosspiece' of the T-shaped pedestal rises a wall with battered edges and a round arch head and the outline of a wheel cross projecting from the two main faces. On the 6 o'clock face the wall forms a background for a cast bronze figure representing a mother and child (not Mary and Jesus as sometimes suggested) and has the sculptor's and founder's names on the base. The 12 o'clock face was originally unadorned but a bronze sword of peace was subsequently added to the face of the cross.

The memorial was originally unprotected but a railing of wood (or possibly concrete) posts and single rail was subsequentlt installed. Much later that was replaced by a railing of cast metal posts with two rails, but open to the 6 o'clock face.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Sculpure	Cast bronze	c2400	530	1000	Fair
Wall and cross	Sandstone	c3400	c1800	c700	Fair
Pedestal	Sandstone	c1500	2000	2080	Fair
Three-stepped base	Stone	c300	c5000	c5000	Lost
Three-stepped base	Sandstone	540	5000	5100	Fair
Tablet	Sandstone	295	825	300	Fair
Plaque	Bronze	330	540	10	Fair
Plaque	Bronze	330	530	10	Fair
Sword of peace	Bronze	c3000	c1500	c100	Fair
Studs	Bronze	-	-	-	Fair
Railings	Metal, wood	c1000	c10000	c10000	Lost
Railings	Metal	c1000	c10000	c10000	Lost
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

6 o'clock face, head of pedestal:

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	First World War (1914-1919)	Second World War (1939-1945)	Post 1945	Civilians	Totals
Action	Unspecified
Number died	0	0	0	0	0
Number served and returned	0	0	0	0	0
Total names	0	0	0	0	0

[THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918]
[Lost]

6 o'clock face, tablet at head of pedestal:

THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918

6 o'clock face, foot of pedestal (original inscription):

FOR FAITH
AND HOME
AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

6 o'clock face, foot of pedestal (later addition):

WORLD WAR
1939 - 1945

12 o'clock face, upper plaque:

IN HONOUR OF
THOSE WHO HAVE
FALLEN IN CONFLICT
SINCE 1945

12 o'clock face, lower plaque:

IN HONOUR OF
THOSE CIVILIANS WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES
IN WAR

9 o'clock face of base of figurel:

A. B. BURTON.
FOUNDER.

3 o'clock face of base of figure:

G A WALKER. Sc.
1924

Administration

Custodian: Derby City Council

Local authorities:
Before 1974: Derby County Borough Council (Derby Corporation)
From 1974 to 1997: Derby District (later Borough and from 1977 City) Council and Derbyshire County Council.
Since 1997 the unitary authority has been Derby City Council.

History and Conservation

c1922: The sculpture was executed by Arthur G Walker, sculptor, and cast by A B Burton, founder, at Thames Ditton, Surrey.

1923: The memorial was erected opposite the arched entrance to the Guildhall.

11th November, 1923: The memorial was unveiled by Alderman Oswald Ling, recent Mayor of Derby and dedicated by Rt Rev Charles Abraham, Bishop Suffragan of Derby.

c1930: The post and single rail railings were added.

28 October 1947: The inscription was defaced by chalk marks.

Early 1970s: The post and single rail railings were replaced by the double rail railings.

Unknown date: The post 1945 plaque was added.

Unknown date: The civilian plaque was added.

Unknown date: The sword of peace was added.

October 1987: The City Centre Conservation Area was first designated: the memorial lies within it.

1993: The memorial was dismantled, cleaned and re-erected 10m northeast of its original position as part of the Market Place townscape scheme. It is probable that the lower part of the pedestal was replaced and the inscription recut and that the tablet was affixed over the inscription on the upper part. A large area of weathered stone was cut out from the 9 o'clock face and a patch inserted, and several small chips or cracks were repaired.

1993: The memorial was redicated.

Unknown date: The memorial was included on Derby City Council's Local List of features of conservation merit. The listing was subsequently superseded by Statutory Listing.

Early 2007: Following skateboarding and other misuses of the memorial, the steps became chipped and a campaign was launched in June to get protective studs placed on them. Work was to be completed by Remembrance Sunday 2007.

31 August 2007: the memorial was listed Grade II, Heritage List for England number 1392237.

August 2008: Following the acquisition of Listed Building Consent, studs were fitted to the steps.

12th July, 2012: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson. It was in good condition and well cared for.

References

Souvenir of ... Unveiling and Dedication ...; Derby Local Studies Library; Reference BA718(18181). The pamphlet contains a photograph by W W Winters and a plan by the Borough Surveyor of the unveiling arrangements.

Nottingham Evening Post; 11th November, 1924; p5: a description of the unveiling ceremony.

Derby Telegraph: 29th October, 1947; p1: a report of graffiti with a photograph which shows the original inscription.

Ibid: 1st June, 2007; p7 col1: an article regarding an initiative to protect the memorial from misuse by seeking statutory listing. The accompanying photograph shows chips on the steps caused by skateboards.

Ibid: 12th June, 2007; a reader's letter regarding the history of the memorial and calling for better protection.

Ibid: Reports and readers' letters regarding the campaign for better protection:
28th June, 2007; p1 and p12-13.
30th June, 2007; p16-17.
2nd July, 2007; p9.
3rd July, 2007; p12.
4th July, 2007; p18.
10th July, 2007; p5.
13th July, 2007; p9.
17th July, 2007; p8.
19th July, 2007; p13.
18th August, 2007; p8.
21st August, 2007; p8.

Comments

Many sources describe the sculpture as being of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus but the descriptive notes accompanying the unveiling programme do not mention this and describe it as "... a typical English mother [and] her son ..." The woman is wearing a loose turban and flowing robes so may be interpreted as an allegory of an English mother and son.

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