Memorial Title
Ilkeston - Garden of Remembrance
Summary
Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a war memorial garden of remembrance at Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
Images
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Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image. Further images may be available on request. |
Locations
| Last known location: Market Place Ilkeston Derbyshire |
Nearest postcode: DE7 5HY NGR: SK 46536 41698 ±5m (Map opens in new window.) |
Location details: South of the church. |
Type
| Overall type: Garden of remembrance. | Overall condition: Poor (in 2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Description: A garden of remembrance comprising a roughly rectangular plot laid to lawns with a stone cross at the centre, approach steps from the Market Place to the west and a wall and tablet to the east. The stone cross terminates with a hollowed foot surmounting an octagonal plinth on a two-step octagonal base. The lower step of the base has an inlaid inscription in upright capital roman lettering. The concrete approach steps are flanked by an ashlar sandstone wall, with concrete copings, which extends along the western edge of the lawns. A similar wall, but curved in plan and with stone copings, forms the eastern boundary and contains an inset stone tablet at its centre bearing an incised inscription in upright capital lettering. Glossary |
Components:
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| Around base of cross: |
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| WE WILL REMEMBER THEM | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tablet: | |||||||||||||||||||
| THIS GARDEN WAS PROVIDED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE FALLEN 1939 - 1945 | |||||||||||||||||||
Administration
Local authorities:
From WW2: Ilkeston Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.
From 1974: Erewash Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.
History and Conservation
1950s: The cross was designed by J P Milner & Craze, F/FRIBA., Chartered Architects of Buckingham Gate, London, and constructed by Walter Beresford. The cross contains relics from 1956 including coins and a scroll.
10th June, 1956: The garden was opened by His Grace Edward Cavendish KG MBE TD 10th Duke of Devonshire and dedicated by The Rt Rev Dr A E J Rawlinson, Bishop of Derby. The tablet was unveiled by the mayor of Ilkeston. The garden was originally enclosed within the graveyard and provided seating, however, the people of Ilkeston still preferred to use the seating outside the library as “they didn’t like sitting in a graveyard”.
1963: A £1,000 scheme was approved by Erewash Borough Council to allow access to the garden from the Market Place by a new paved path and steps.
1965: The path and steps were completed but it was soon reported that they had been defaced.
1971: Further vandalism included benches being broken and daubed in graffiti.
6th November, 1979: Ilkeston Town Centre Conservation Area was first designated, and the memorial lies within it.
15 October, 2003: A report to Erewash Borough Council Executive recommended approval of a £5,000 project for the refurbishment of the memorial but it was not approved.
8th August, 2006: The memorial was surveyed by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot. It was in poor condition.
August 2006: There were public calls for renovation of the garden.
February, 2007: Erewash Borough Council agreed to accept a grant of £3,180 from English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation and agreed the release of £20,000 capital funding to allow the project to proceed.
8th November, 2019: The memorial was revisited by Roy Branson and Alan Willmot. It was in fair condition. The upper lawn had been replaced by shrubs and metal studs had been installed in some coping stones to prevent them being damaged by skateboarders.
References
Erewash Borough Council; 11th July, 2007; Report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services to the Council Executive: Improvements to garden of remembrance - St Mary’s Church Ilkeston.
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