Remember those lost. Right here stands the Hendon Park Memorial. It’s more than just stone and bronze. It is a place where we honor the people of Hendon who sacrificed everything during the First and Second World Wars.
This memorial has stood here since 1922. Originally, it wasn’t exactly here. It was moved in 1962 because the road needed to be wider.
Take a close look at the cross. Notice the sword carved into the stone. It’s not just any stone. It is Copenacre box ground stone. The Yockney and Hartham Park Stone Company crafted it.
Feel the cool smoothness of the stone. The base is an irregular octagon. Bronze plaques adorn it. These plaques display the names of the fallen.
Read the inscriptions carefully. The south plaque lists those who died in World War I. The west and east plaques continue the somber roll call. A stone block remembers those who perished in World War II.
Reflect on the names. Hundreds of people from Hendon. They were residents of the central and west wards. A brass plaque added in 2015 lists 228 names of those lost in the Second World War.
Consider the cost. The memorial cost £451, excluding the bronze plaques. Those cost an additional £205. Public subscriptions funded it. George Hornblower designed it.
Imagine the unveiling ceremony on April 23, 1922. The Bishop of Willesden led the dedication. It was a day of mourning. It was also a day of gratitude.
Think about Hendon Park itself. It was once part of the Steps Fields, a medieval estate. The Goodyer family owned it. The Kemp family then owned it from 1868. Hendon Council opened it to the public in 1903.
Hendon became part of the London Borough of Barnet in 1965. The park offers a place for remembrance. It also provides space for recreation.
Note the buses that pass nearby. Numbers 113, 143, 186, 362, 643, and 797. Hendon Central tube station is a short walk away. The Northern line runs through it.
Consider the park’s more recent addition. The Queen Elizabeth II Memorial was installed at the Queens Road entrance. It celebrates her life and reign.
Hendon Park even played a role in World War II. A propaganda rally, “Rout the Rumour,” was held here. It aimed to stop gossip from harming the war effort.
The Hendon Park cafe has its own story. It was originally a bomb shelter. It is a single-story brick building with a flat roof.
Remember this memorial. It is a reminder of the past. It honors those who gave their lives. It ensures their names are not forgotten. It serves as a place of peace.