Information sought about Chorleywood war memorial plans

In the years immediately following the end of the First World War there was a huge desire, across the country, to commemorate those who had fallen in ‘the war to end all wars’.

Pretty well every community, village, town, factory and congregation erected, at the expense of the local people, a war memorial of some sort: some were large and imposing, others much more prosaic and modest: some were in the form of plaques and window in churches or workshops, others were buildings. And the parishes and communities of what’s now Three Rivers were no different: those who had died in combat were to be permanently remembered. The photos show a small selection of the war memorials in our area.

Local war memorials: West Hyde, in St Thomas’s church

But not all the proposed designs were erected, and the museum has been asked about one at Chorleywood by Dr David Lund of the Arts University Bournemouth. We don’t know the answer, and nor (so far) do our friends in Chorleywood. So we offer it to the collective knowledge of the readers of the Watford Observer.

The story of what was built is clear enough, and is outlined by the Chorleywood U3A group in their 2018 book Exploring Chorleywood.

In 1918 there were 188 Chorleywood men – two thirds of the adult male population - serving in the forces, and 50 had been killed. A suitable memorial to them was proposed by the then Vicar of All Saints, Rev Cecil Hughes, and nearly £160 was raised by public subscription for a tablet in the church. But the idea emerged of a much more impressive tribute, in the form of a Memorial Hall for the village, for which the build cost was to be £5,000 raised by voluntary donations. This was agreed: but where to put it? A number of suitable sites were rejected by the various landowners, and eventually a sloping site by the golf course was selected. Although the golf club got cold feet, the present Memorial Hall was finally erected, and formally opened on November 11, 1922. It’s been extended several times, and continues to provide a fine facility for the village community.

What was built: the Chorleywood Memorial Hall, seen in 1996. Image: Three Rivers Museum collection

This much is clear, and well known. But we’ve now been asked about the very much larger project shown in our main photo. It’s of an architect’s model dating from about 1920, made by the London model maker John Thorp, and seems to show a plan for an impressive memorial in Chorleywood, facing what seems likely to be homes - perhaps for the returning heroes? It looks if the location should be identifiable from the road layout, an unusual curved approach with a junction and enough open space for the main memorial, which looks like the ‘winged victory’, but it’s not easy to see anywhere like this in Chorleywood today – perhaps in what is now Whitelands Avenue? Was it a part of the deliberations before the idea of the Memorial Hall was selected? If so, who commissioned this very fine (and expensive) design, and what happened to it?

Local war memorials: Rickmansworth, in its original shape and location. Image: Three Rivers Museum collection

If anyone can throw any light on this fascinating query, an email to chairman@trmt.org.uk will be very welcome.

The Three Rivers Museum new display on South Oxhey is now open – Wednesday to Friday 2pm to 4pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm. For more information, visit www.trmt.org.uk.

Local war memorials: Croxley Green, seen in 1996.