Commonwealth War Memorial receives a deep clean
Recent visitors to Abney Park will no doubt have noticed how the Commonwealth War Memorial is looking particularly white and clean.
Built over the catacomb vaults below, the Commonwealth War Memorial was completed during 1925. It was commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission, (from 1960 known as Commonwealth War Graves Commission). The Indenture showing plans of the memorial was signed on 8th July 1925 by Fabian Ware.
The Cross of Sacrifice was designed by architect Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1919. Blomfield was also one of the senior architects overseeing the design of British War cemeteries. He wanted a design that reflected the war, which stripped away any notions about glory in combat and nobility in death on the battlefield. This was partly purveyed by the bronze longsword attached to the front of the octagonal shaft. The Cross of Sacrifice is present in Commonwealth cemeteries where there are more than 40 war burials.
The War Memorial was built to commemorate those servicemen buried in various parts of Abney Park whose graves could not be marked by individual headstones. There are 375 fallen personnel interred in Abney Park, 262 burials from the 1914 - 1918 Great War and a further 113 of the 1939 - 1945 Second World War. Since being extended after WWII, the bronze screen wall panels bear the names of 220 soldiers and sailors.
The main body of the memorial is constructed from 12" thick Portland stone, the parapet is paved with 4" thick York stone and the steps are a distinctive Woodkirk stone. In the early days a formal shrub bed was laid between the Cross and the raised landing edges. This was still evident in a picture published in the 1994 printing of the book 'A Guide to Abney Park Cemetery' by Paul Joyce. As there is no record, we are unsure as to when they were removed.
Recently, many areas of the war memorial were drawn on with chalk. As Abney Park Trust were unable to remove it without damaging the stone, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission completed a professional thermotec clean of the War Memorial last week. This deep clean maintenance is usually carried out every few years by experienced members of the CWGC but was hence pushed forward.
The CWGC are responsible for the upkeep maintenance of the War Memorial, with volunteers and Abney Park Trust staff sweeping it every two weeks. The 154 Commonwealth War graves onsite are maintained by Abney Park Trust, under direction from the CWGC.
Abney Park Trust would like to thank the Commonwealth War Grave Commission for their swift action in restoring the memorial to it's brilliant condition. We hope that visitors to Abney Park will continue to appreciate the reasons for the memorial being on site and enjoy the monument in a respectful manner.