Showcase result

Romsey

Romsey War Memorial Park lies in the west of the town, north of the A27 by-pass and east of the main body of the River Test. The Park is bounded on the north by The Meads and on the west by a tributary of the Test. Another tributary of the Test flows centrally, north-south, through the Park to rejoin the main river flow; and in doing so creates a partial south boundary. It is the largest public space in the town and includes a children’s play area, bowling-green, tennis courts and a bandstand. In addition to the commemorative plaques located either side of the entrance gate, that commemorate the opening of the park and unveiling of the memorial, there is a Japanese Second World War 150mm field gun and the prominently located war memorial.

This monument consists of a square column of which the corners have been cut away for much of the length to give a cross plan. The original square plan was retained for the lower portion on which each face bears a sculptured wreath of alternating laurel and oak in relief. A band below the top of the column was also retained in the original square plan that effects a Christian cross on each face of the column; this effect is accentuated by a recessed Latin Cross on each face. In each recessed corner immediately beneath this band is the sculptured image of a cherub in relief. The top of the column is an obtuse apex. The column rises from a two-tier plinth, the faces of which are inscribed. The top of the plinth and the mid-section are finished in simple concave transitions, whereas the base is beveled. The whole sits on a base of two steps; the upper step is a double layer and the lower step a single layer. The angles of the steps and lower plinth are extended by concave buttresses that are flush with the plinth middle transition, each of which is topped with a stone orb. The base is bordered by a band of white aggregate.

In 2011, a grant of £1,279 was offered through the Small Grants Scheme towards cleaning and repair works. Open and failed joints were raked out by hand and re-pointed with lime mortar to match the existing in colour, texture and bonding strength. Damaged areas of stonework were indented with replacement stone to match the existing and were bedded and fixed with stainless steel dowels, matched resin and lime mortar. The memorial was cleaned with de-ionised water and non-metallic brushes to improve the legibility of the inscriptions and an application of an appropriate quaternary ammonium-based biocide was applied to help delay the biological re-growth, although this cannot be prevented.

The memorial was designed by Mr C. W. P. Dyson and Mr S. C. Greenwood in the capacity of honorary architects and surveyors to the Romsey War Memorial Committee, and was constructed by Mr John Grace and Sons of Romsey. Funding for both the park and memorial was achieved through public collection. The park was opened to the public on 4th August 1920 by Major J. E. Chichester JP CC and the memorial itself was unveiled on 22nd June 1921 by the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

The plaque on the left side of the gate is inscribed:

“This park was opened
to the public by
Maj J. E. Chichester
JP CC
on the 4th of August 1920 
in the Mayoralty of
Aldm C. T. Waters JP”

The right side plaque bears the inscription:

“The war memorial
was unveiled by the
Lord Lieutenant
of Hampshire
on the 22nd June 1921
in the Mayoralty of
Counlr F Fremantle”

The front face of the bottom tier of the plinth is inscribed:

“1914 – 1918
their name liveth for evermore”

Beneath this and also incised on the other three faces are the names of those commemorated.

The rear face of the upper tier of the plinth is inscribed:

“The World War
1939 – 1945
they left all that was dear to them,
endured hardness, faced danger and
finally passed out of the sight of men
let those who come after see to it that
their names be not forgotten”

Beneath this and also on the other three faces are names of those killed in World War II.

Further information

War Memorials Trust reference WM5168
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 21501

War Memorials Online: 102574

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

Return to search results | Start a new search