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Thriplow

Thriplow war memorial is a Portland stone monumental cenotaph placed on a paved surface of York stone, adjacent to Fowlmere Road facing the village green. With a central rectangular plan, the sides are shaped as tapered pilasters. A stone laurel wreath in relief is located at the centre-top of the cenotaph and the inscriptions are incised into the front face of the memorial. The memorial and surrounds are enclosed to the rear by a yew hedge and a metal railing to the sides and front; in the front rail is an opening for access to the memorial. The memorial commemorates those killed in World Wars I and II and is located within a Conservation Area.

In 2010, a grant of £380 was offered through the Small Grants Scheme towards cleaning works with de-ionised water with non-metallic brushes because the deposits on the memorial meant that many of the inscriptions could not be read. This is a good example of the positive results which can be achieved by using minimal, natural and non-aggressive cleaning methods.

Although it is not known who designed this memorial, construction was carried out by Messrs. Whitehead and Sons of Royston. Funding was by public subscription. A service of dedication was held on 12th November 1922, conducted by the Vicar Rev. A. Robss with the assistance of Rev. F. Hutt of the Congregational Church. The opening hymn was “O God, our help in ages past”, which was followed by an offering of prayer and the Vicar’s address. After a following hymn, the memorial was unveiled of the Union Flag by Capt. R. Croft Montague (who had recruited men of the village in 1914). The memorial was then dedicated after which Capt. Montague delivered a short address. Wreaths were then placed at the foot of the cenotaph and the service concluded with the singing of the National Anthem.

The front face of the lintel is inscribed:

“Thriplow”

The front face of the cenotaph, each line split by the wreath, is inscribed:

“In honour of those
who fought and in memory
of those who fell in the
Great War 1914 – 1919”

Below this and central in the face is inscribed the single word:

“Fallen”

Under which are inscribed the names of the fourteen men killed in that war.

Below the names of those commemorated from the First World War, and at the bottom of the cenotaph is the inscription:

“And the World War 1939 – 1945”

Underneath this, on the front face of the base-piece are inscribed the names of the four men who died in this war.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM3578
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 22777

Roll of Honour

If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org

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