Envision an open inverted stairway made of teak. This is the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Sculpture. It stands as a poignant reminder of a tragic event during World War II.
This memorial is near Bethnal Green underground station. It commemorates the 173 people who died here on March 3 1943. Sixty-two of the victims were children.
The Bethnal Green tube station served as an air raid shelter. In 1943, an air raid siren wailed. People rushed to the station seeking safety. A new anti-aircraft battery fired nearby. The crowd panicked thinking bombs were falling. People stumbled on the stairs. The narrow stairwell became a death trap. Nearly 300 people were trapped. Many were crushed and suffocated.
The government concealed the truth during the war. They feared it would undermine morale. The Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust formed in 2007. Their aim was to create a fitting public memorial. Local architects Harry Patticas and Jens Borstlemann designed it. The memorial was unveiled on December 16 2017.
The Stairway to Heaven Memorial is an inverted replica of the station stairs. The base is Portland stone. The inverted staircase is made of teak. The names of the 173 victims are carved into the teak. There are 173 small holes in the top. Sunlight shines through these holes symbolizing lost lives. The memorial’s dimensions match the stairwell where the tragedy occurred.
The disaster was the largest single loss of civilian life in the UK during the Second World War.
The Stairway to Heaven Memorial includes plaques. These plaques feature accounts from survivors and victim’s families. The memorial provides closure for survivors rescuers and relatives. The architect worked hard to ensure the memorial was finished before the 75th anniversary.
This Stairway to Heaven Memorial stands as a reminder. It reminds us of the lives lost. It reminds us of the importance of remembering history’s tragedies.