“They come transfigured back secure from change.” These words are inscribed on the Hanger Hill War Memorial. It stands as a solemn reminder of sacrifice. We’re here at the Hanger Hill War Memorial in Ealing. It is a place of remembrance and reflection. This memorial is more than stone and inscription. It’s a gateway to understanding Ealing’s profound connection to the World Wars.
Ealing’s war memorial proposal emerged in January 1919. It was a time just after the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front. The community sought a way to honor those who had lost their lives. Over £5,565 was collected for the project by October.
Initially, some thought the memorial should be a heavy gun mounted on stone. After much discussion, a different design was chosen. The Hanger Hill War Memorial was to be located in front of Pitzhanger Manor on Ealing Green. Leonard Shuffrey, a local architect, designed the war memorial.
The memorial was conceived as a gateway. It stood before the manor’s main entrance. It was designed with two walls. These walls would list the names of those killed in the Great War. A tree-lined avenue would stretch from St. Mary’s Road across the green to the gateway.
The construction cost about £1,500. Carving over 1,000 names added several hundred pounds more. The four urns on the pedestals came from Elm Grove. Elm Grove was the Ealing home of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval. The inscription read: “In Proud and Grateful Memory of the men of this borough who laid down their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918.”
The Hanger Hill War Memorial finally opened two years later in 1921. It was officially handed over to the council. A local paper hoped it would hold a place in local life. It should be like the Cenotaph in Whitehall in national life. Each Armistice Day, crowds would gather to pay their respects.
The Hanger Hill War Memorial has been extended. After 1945, it was expanded to commemorate the dead of the Second World War. The flanking walls carry the names of the Second World War dead. The frieze bears the inscription: “In proud and grateful memory of the men and women of this borough who laid down their lives in the Great Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-45.”
The architect’s own son, Gilbert Shuffrey, is among the fallen commemorated here. The memorial also records Alice Harman’s name. She was killed in an accident at a munitions factory in Acton in 1916.
Take a moment to observe the Portland stone ashlar. Feel the wrought-iron gates. Note the ornate scroll-work. The arms of the Borough embellish the arched overthrow. Each gate pier has a sunken panel. It features a relief carving of olive branches.
Look at the quadrant walls. They are faced with raised stone panels. See the names of the 1,051 fallen of the First World War. The walls were raised to incorporate a band of narrow panels. These panels bear the names of those who fell in the Second World War.
The Hanger Hill War Memorial remains a place of reflection. It shows the community’s enduring gratitude. It is an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events. It honors the sacrifices made by the men and women of Ealing. As you leave, remember the words inscribed here. Remember the stories etched in stone.