Russian Memorial, Lewes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Russian Memorial
The Russian Memorial, showing the north-west, west, and south-west panels
Location	St John sub Castro churchyard, Abinger Place, Lewes, East Sussex, England
Built	1877
Built for	Alexander II of Russia
Architect	Philip Currey
Architectural style(s)	Neo-Gothic
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Russian Memorial in the Churchyard of St John sub Castro
Designated	29 October 1985
Reference no.	1043887
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The Russian Memorial is a tall, pointed stone monument called an obelisk. You can find it in the churchyard of St John sub Castro in Lewes, a town in East Sussex, England.

It was built in 1877 by order of Alexander II, who was the Emperor of Russia. The memorial honors 28 Finnish soldiers. These soldiers were part of the Russian Army during the Crimean War. They died in Lewes between 1854 and 1856 while they were prisoners of war.

This memorial is very important. English Heritage has given it a special status as a Grade II listed building. This means it is a nationally important building with special historical interest.

The Crimean War and Prisoners

How the War Started

The Crimean War began in March 1854. Britain was worried about Russia's navy in the Baltic Sea. So, the Royal Navy attacked a Russian fort called Bomarsund in the Åland Islands. This was near Finland.

The first attack failed, but a second attack by British and French forces in August 1854 was successful. The fort was destroyed. Many Russian soldiers were captured and sent to Britain and France.

Prisoners in Lewes

About 340 soldiers from the Russian army were brought to Lewes, in Sussex. Most of these soldiers were Finnish. At that time, Finland was part of the Russian Empire. Many of the soldiers defending Bomarsund were Finnish conscripts, meaning they were required to serve in the army.

The officers who were captured gave their word not to escape. They were allowed to live with local families in Lewes. They became part of the local community. They went riding, hunted on local estates, and even attended concerts. Sometimes, people on the streets would bother them, but local judges punished those who caused trouble.

Life in Prison

The regular soldiers were kept in the old County Gaol, which was used as a naval prison. A workshop was set up so they could make wooden toys. They sold these toys to the public to earn pocket money.

By October 1854, these toys were very popular. People would pay from 6 pence upwards for each toy. Toy shops in Brighton even started selling "Russian toys." The prison became a popular place for tourists. Up to 500 visitors came in a single day. Sometimes, toy sales brought in as much as £40. This money was used to buy extra food and treats for the prisoners. Many prisoners even had watches, and some were made of gold.

Not everyone was happy about how well the prisoners were treated. Some people felt it was unfair when British soldiers' families were struggling.

Challenges and Deaths

Life in prison was not always easy. One time, a group of prisoners refused to exercise because some of their friends were in solitary confinement. This protest grew into a small rebellion. As a result, 25 of the leaders were moved to a prison ship. The remaining prisoners were locked in their cells at night.

Sadly, by September 1855, 15 prisoners had died from diseases like tuberculosis. By the time they left, 28 prisoners had died. They were buried in the nearby churchyard of St John sub Castro.

Going Home

Despite the challenges, the prisoners remained popular in Lewes. When the war ended in 1856, it was time for them to return home. People said the goodbyes were very sad. The Russian commanding officer publicly thanked the people of Lewes. He wrote a letter expressing how grateful they were for the kindness they received. The townspeople lined the streets to watch them leave.

The Memorial

Building the Monument

After the war, Tsar Alexander II of Russia wanted a monument to remember the 28 Finnish prisoners who died. Philip Currey designed the monument. A local stone worker named John Strong built it in a neo-Gothic style.

The memorial stands in the churchyard of St John sub Castro. This is near where the naval prison used to be, and it's also where the soldiers were buried. On May 1, 1877, a Russian general named Alexander Gorloff inspected and approved the monument.

What the Memorial Looks Like

The monument is 17 feet tall. It stands on a round base above an eight-sided stone bottom. The main part is an eight-sided drum with pointed arches. These arches are separated by granite pillars. Above this, the stone tapers up like a spire. At the very top, there is a small eight-sided structure and a cross.

Messages on the Panels

Each arch on the monument has an inscribed panel.

• The east side says: "Sacred to the Memory of the Russian Soldiers who died Prisoners of War in Lewes in the years 1854 1855 1856."
• The west side says: "Raised by Order of His Majesty the Emperor of Russia Alexander II 1877." It also has an added note saying the Soviet Embassy restored the memorial in 1957.
• The north panel has words from the first simple headstone placed by the surviving prisoners: "Erected by the Finlanders Russian Prisoners of War as a Memorial of their Countrymen and fellow Prisoners who died During their Captivity in Lewes War Prison."
• The south side has four lines of a poem, also from the first memorial.
• The panels in between list the names of the 28 soldiers who died.

Special Status

The memorial was given a Grade II listed status by English Heritage on October 29, 1985. This means it is a "nationally important building of special interest." As of 2001, it was one of many important listed buildings in the Lewes area.

List of Names

Abraham Lindfors, Erik Kivi, Matts Mort, Adolf Granat, Matts Lilja, Carl Boll, John Kive; Johan Rof, David Kihl, Carl Udd, Matts Hellman, Carl Wec(?h/k)tars, Michel Gronroos, Victor Wass; Johan Mail, Gustaf (?)Husar, Johan Hellen, Gustaf Kyro, Victor Walander, Joel (?Inlo), Matts Lindstrom; Carl Grod Sergeant, Michel Sett, Micha Mild, Johan Oinstrom, Matts Asp, Carl Lind, Joseph Storm.

Legacy

The Finnish Song

A popular Finnish folk song, Oolannin sota (which means "Crimean War"), came from an earlier song called Ålandin sota laulu ("Åland war song"). This song tells the story of the prisoners being captured and held in Lewes. Many believe one of the Lewes prisoners wrote it while he was held captive.

The Opera

Stephen Plaice used this story to write the words for an opera called The Finnish Prisoner. Orlando Gough wrote the music for it. The opera even includes the song Oolannin sota.

The opera first premiered in Lewes in 2007. Susannah Waters directed it. The cast included professional singers, even some from the Finnish National Opera. Local amateur singers and a children's choir also performed. A Finnish television show even made a program about the production, which featured the memorial.