Mory Abbey Military Cemetery

Description

The exceptional feature of the cemetery, which is wedged in between a civil cemetery and a field with German graves, is the entrance area. The cemetery lies almost two and a half metres higher than road and manifests itself as a high plateau, largely due to the high stone retaining wall. Embankments with plants adjoin the retaining wall. A monumental stairway, with three landings, has been incorporated parallel to the road. On the third landing, the orientation is rotated ninety degrees and the visitor is led toward the cemetery. The stairway connects to a lateral axis between the fields with old graves on the west side and the newer graves and the War Stone on the east. The axis terminates at a seat in the wall. The graves are oriented toward the east. The Cross of Sacrifice marks the cemetery on the road and has been shifted just off the axis to make space for the movement of the stairway. The Cross of Sacrifice and the stairway are included in a zone with plant beds.

Between the cemetery and the field with the German graves, two new chestnut trees have been planted. With the entrance stairway parallel to the road, the cemetery is akin to H.A.C. Cemetery, Sunken Road Cemetery and Hangard Communal Cemetery Extension. (Geurst, 2010, p.370)

Bibliography

Geurst, J. (2010) Cemeteries of the Great War by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Rotterdam: 010 Publishers.

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Listing Grade

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Listing Reference

Client

Imperial War Graves Commission