Croydon Cenotaph facts for kids
The cenotaph in 2010
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| Coordinates | 51°22′20″N 0°05′58″W / 51.372281°N 0.099355°W |
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| Location | Katharine Street, Croydon, London, England |
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| Opening date | 21 October 1921 |
| Dedicated to | War dead |
The Croydon Cenotaph is a special monument located in Croydon, London, England. It stands proudly outside the Croydon Clocktower arts center on Katharine Street. A cenotaph is a memorial that honors people who died, but whose bodies are buried somewhere else. This one remembers the brave people from Croydon who gave their lives in wars.
Contents
Remembering Heroes: The Cenotaph's Story
This important memorial is made from a strong, light-colored stone called Portland stone. It was designed by James Burford. The Croydon Cenotaph was officially revealed on October 22, 1921. It was built to remember the people from Croydon who lost their lives in World War I.
Special Statues and Their Meaning
The cenotaph is framed by two amazing bronze statues. These statues were created by the talented artist Paul Raphael Montford. One statue shows a soldier from the East Surrey Regiment. He is sitting down and tending to his own wounded arm.
The other statue shows a woman holding a child. She has a letter in her outstretched hand. Her face shows sadness and worry. We can imagine she has just received difficult news about her husband. The statue of the soldier was even shown at the famous Royal Academy in 1921.
What the Inscription Says
The words carved on the cenotaph help us remember why it was built. They read:
1914 1918
1939 1945
AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN
WARS AND CONFLICTS SINCE
A TRIBUTE TO THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF CROYDON
WHO DIED AND SUFFERED
The dates "1914 1918" refer to World War I. The dates "1939 1945" were added after World War II ended. The lines about remembering those who died in "wars and conflicts since" were added in 1997. This shows the memorial continues to honor all who served.
Protecting This Important Monument
The Croydon Cenotaph is a very important historical site. On November 19, 1973, it was given Grade II listed status. This means it is legally protected from being changed or torn down without permission. It is part of a group of important buildings in the area.
Its status was even upgraded to Grade II* on July 27, 2017. This higher grade means it is considered a particularly important building of more than special interest.
A special book called a roll of honour is kept in the local library. This book lists the names of those remembered by the cenotaph.
