York War Memorial Gardens

Description

Apart from London, York is the only city with two war memorials designed by Lutyens and the commissioning of both caused a lot of local controversy. The North East Railways Memorial (February 2015) was erected first with the City’s own memorial being unveiled a year later. The original proposal was for a Stone of Remembrance on a high podium tucked into a bank beside the City Walls but there was strong opposition to such a sensitive location led by the redoubtable Dr William Evelyn, the secretary of YAYAS (the Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society).

Even though the site was approved by the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments following a public hearing Dr Evelyn continued to protest, with the result that an alternative location was chosen on land that was, by coincidence, owned by North East Railway Company. The design was changed to a large War Cross in a garden surrounded by railings and gates also designed by Lutyens.

The memorial was unveiled by the HRH Duke of York on 25 June 1925. (Contributor: Tim Skelton)

Bibliography

Also Cited In

Pevsner, N. and Neave, D. (1995) Yorkshire: York and the East Riding. The Buildings of England. London: Penguin.

Listing Grade

II*

Listing Reference

1257512

Client