Building record 1653/0/31 - Woodford War Memorial on the Green

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War

{1} Reasons for Designation
Woodford War Memorial, which stands on the village Green, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Design: a substantial stone obelisk, standing prominently on the village’s main open space.

History
Woodford, unusually, has two freestanding war memorials. Following the end of the First World War a committee, under the Comrades Club, was formed to oversee the erection of a memorial in January 1919. It is believed that the church did not approve the design which was forthcoming – an obelisk – and accordingly arrangements were made to construct a second memorial in the churchyard near the north wall of the tower. The war memorial obelisk on the Green was unveiled on Woodford Feast Sunday (10 July) 1921 at a ceremony led by four clergymen; the memorial Calvary in the churchyard was unveiled on 15 October 1921.
Between the 1950s and c2000 the obelisk on the green was surrounded by a memorial garden. This has been reverted to grass.

Details
The war memorial stands on the large Green at the village centre. It comprises a c5m tall sandstone obelisk with a reversed sword carved in relief on its front face. Beneath, at the base of the obelisk, HONOUR is carved in relief. The obelisk stands on a square, splayed, plinth, this set upon a four-stepped octagonal base. The memorial is c7.5 m tall overall.
The front face of the plinth is inscribed TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1919. The names of the fallen are inscribed on the other three sides. A stone let into the front face of the second step bears an inscription for the Second World War: TO THE MEMORY OF THESE MEN, WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945 (8 NAMES).

<1> Historic England, 2015, Woodford War Memorial on the Green (Designation Advice Report). SNN111775.

<2> https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, War Memorials Online, War Memorials Online, accessed 17 January 2017. No 197542 (Website). SNN110618.

<3> Imperial War Museum, War Memorials Register, War Memorials Register, accessed 17 January 2017. No 14935 (Website). SNN110619.

<4> Woodford Village Website: War Memorials History, Accessed 12/12/2015 (Website). SNN111774.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:44PM