Hatfield War Memorial facts for kids

The Hatfield War Memorial is a special place in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. It stands next to the old Great North Road. This memorial was designed by a famous architect named Sir Herbert Baker.

In 2017, it became one of 24 war memorials in England chosen as a national collection by Historic England. The memorial is close to the gates of Hatfield House and the Hatfield railway station. It was first shown to the public in 1921. It remembers 139 men from Hatfield who died serving in the First World War. Later, more names were added for the Second World War.

What is the Memorial Like?

The memorial has a tall cross made of Portland stone. It stands in a peaceful garden. Brick walls surround the garden on three sides. A green yew hedge forms the fourth side. You can enter the garden through a gate in the south wall.

Inside the garden, there is a brick building called a pavilion. This pavilion is on the north side. It holds stone tablets with the names of those who died.

The Memorial Cross

The cross is a classic design by Sir Herbert Baker. It has eight sides and stands on an eight-sided base. Baker had suggested a similar cross design for war cemeteries. However, a different design was chosen for those.

Still, Baker used his cross design for many memorials in towns. He also designed 113 cemeteries on the Western Front. These include famous places like Tyne Cot and Neuve-Chapelle Indian Memorial.

The cross itself has a round top, like a wheel. It is decorated with roses and lilies. These flowers represent England and France. The cross stands on a simple base in the middle of a grassy area.

The Pavilion Building

The pavilion is a rectangular building made of red bricks. It faces the cross with three arched openings. These arches were later closed with metal railings. The roof is covered with clay tiles. The floor inside is made of bricks laid in a special pattern.

The solid side and back walls of the pavilion hold stone plaques. These plaques list the names of the people the memorial remembers. Baker used similar brick shelters at other memorials he designed.

Who Does the Memorial Remember?

The stone plaques first listed 139 servicemen from Hatfield. These were men who died during the First World War. After the Second World War, 58 more names were added. These included both men and women.

The memorial also remembers 34 civilians. These were people who died during bombing raids in the area. Many of these raids targeted the de Havilland aircraft factory nearby. In 2014, two more names were added to the memorial.

History of the Memorial

The memorial was built on land east of the Great North Road. This land was near the gates of Hatfield House. James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury kindly gave the land. Building the memorial cost about £1,500.

The memorial was officially opened on June 12, 1921. Thomas Brand, 3rd Viscount Hampden unveiled it. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire. The Bishop of Exeter, Lord William Cecil, dedicated the memorial. Lord Salisbury read out the names of the dead during the ceremony.

The memorial was repaired in 1998. By 2013, the main cross was very worn down. It was replaced with a new one in 2015.

Importance Today

The Hatfield War Memorial is a very important historical site. In May 2017, it was given a Grade II* listed building status. This means it is a building of special interest.

Nearby, you can also see the Grade II listed gates to Hatfield House. Hatfield House itself is a Grade I listed building. There is also a Grade II listed statue of Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom three times.

Images for kids

• 

  Statue of the 3rd Marquis of Salisbury, before the gates to Hatfield House: the southern wall of the memorial garden is visible to the far left