Carter Postcard Collection

Local Publication/Booklet 2011 'They Are Not Lost, They Are Here' by Trilby Shaw, Horizon Editions Ltd. Contains history and biographies relating to this and other memorials in Ashbourne.

Derby Evening Telegraph 12/ 22 September 2011 Report on new book about Ashbourne's memorials, including photograph of the opening ceremony for the gates.

Ashbourne Telegraph - Friday 02 July 1920 (page 5) reported: ASHBOURNE WAR MEMORIAL. PROPOSED ALTERATION OF PLANS. A general meeting of the Ashbourne War Memorial Committee was held on Friday evening, when Dr. Boswell presided over a, good attendance, those present being... With the object of obtaining a better idea of the present position of affairs the secretary (Mr. R. Williams) read the minutes of the previous meetings, which showed that it was the original intention of the committee to convert the Ashbourne Hall into an institute for the residents, with reading room, concert hall, and a room specially set aside for the use of ex-service men. It was further proposed to lay out six acres of land as pleasure and recreation grounds, the original estimate for the two schemes being £4,000. The financial position showed that £4,121 10s. 9d. had been subscribed or promised, against which the committee had expended £1,625 for the purchase of the hall, £600 for the purchase of the land for the recreation ground, and other expenses left a balance in hand of £1,803 1s. 7d. To this had to be added the sum of £81 12s 3d. which would be received from the Urban Council for the land utilized in road-making, which made the balance in hand £1,884 13s. This included the £500 given by Lord Cullen of Ashbourne, for the planting and protection of the trees which are to form the Cokayne Avenue, the initial cost of which was estimated at £330, leaving the net balance in hand of £1,584 13s. 10d...' [The War Memorial Committee explained during the meeting that, due to the many requested amendments since the original memorial scheme had been agreed, and building costs having unexpectedly almost doubled, the projected cost had now risen to 'six or seven thousand pounds'. It was therefore necessary to reduce expectations to an affordable level]. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003323/19200702/051/0005

Ashbourne Telegraph - Friday 12 May 1922 (page 5) printed a lengthy report of the unveiling that had taken place on Wednesday 10th May, which began: 'THE TOWN MEMORIAL UNVEILED BY BARON CULLEN OF ASHBOURNE. Historic Scene Witnessed by Thousands. To perpetuate their thankfulness and praise to Almighty God for deliverance from their enemies, and in grateful and undying remembrance of the brave men of their town who have laid down their lives for their homes and country the inhabitants of Ashbourne acquired a piece of land on the Ashbourne Hall estate on which they have laid out recreation grounds and erected a memorial arch as a memorial, which were opened with appropriate circumstance by the Rt. Hon. Baron Cullen of Ashbourne on Wednesday. The Memorial Arch. This arch is of massive construction, composed of selected Derbyshire gritstone. It is of late Doric design, and dignified in its treatment. It forms the main entrance to the Recreation Ground. The opening is 12 feet wide, flanked with substantial buttresses, in the front of which stand two fluted and reeded columns, 10 feet high, with cap and base. Above the columns rises the pediment, enriched with suitable mouldings, the total height being over 15 feet. On the facia over the gateway is carved a winged scarab, the emblem of the Infinite, with endless knot, the emblem of Perfect Love. Just above this is engraved the words "In Grateful Memory of those who fell in the Great War." On the faces of the two buttresses are carved two laurel wreaths, which give an appropriate canopy to the Bronze Panels below, containing the names of the Fallen. Above the wreaths there is a carved and fretted freize. The dates 1914-1918 are engraved on the facia over the gateway. Flanking the arch, and forming a handsome contribution to the whole, are two circular balustraded wing walls with terminal posts and balls, rising to a height of 4ft. 6ins. The whole of the work in connection with the memorial arch was executed by Messrs. R. G. Lomas & Son, Monumental Masons, Derby. The Recreation Ground is divided into two portions and contains about 6½ acres, one portion of which is intended to be used as a Sports Ground, and Children's Playground, and the remainder has been laid out as Ornamental Gardens, with winding paths, consisting of a main Avenue of Limes with a 10ft. wide walk from the memorial arch leading to the sports ground, and over 500 yards of other walks. About 1.000 ornamental trees and shrubs have been planted in great variety. Oak entrance gates have been provided in Park Road, and near the memorial arch. The following are the names of the fallen inscribed on the bronze tablets:...' 'In welcoming Lord Cullen. Mr. Rose said they all greatly appreciated the honour his lordship had conferred upon them in coming to Ashbourne to perform the opening ceremony. Lord Cullen took a great pride in our town, in which his ancestors were prominent and distinguished citizens for some hundreds of years. As Sir Brien Cokayne he held the important position of Governor of the Bank of England during the troublous times of the war with very great credit and distinction. Lord Cullen then unveiled the memorial tablets and unlocked the gates of the recreation ground with a golden key presented by Mr. W. E. Lomas. after which his lordship placed a handsome spray of lilies at the foot of the arch. In addressing the company his lordship said he had pleasure in declaring the grounds open to the public. Their friend, Canon Morris, kindly arranged for him to see the grounds that morning, and he congratulated the committee on having raised so fine a memorial, which would be increasingly effective as time went on and the plants grew...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003323/19220512/056/0005

Ashbourne Telegraph - Friday 11 November 1949 (page 8) printed a lengthy report of commemoration services held at St Oswald's Church and at Memorial Arch on Sunday November 6th, which began: 'REMEMBRANCE DAY ASHBOURNE HONOURS THE FALLEN Favoured with fine weather, Ashbourne's annual tribute to the memory of their fallen fellow townsmen was carried out with the customary smoothness which characterises everything undertaken by the Ashbourne branch of the British Legion. Although the members taking part in the parade were not as large as some years, there was the same spirit, and the sincere and devotionary atmosphere at Church and at the War Memorial were indicative of the feelings of all present. Mr. R. S. Bury, President of the Ashbourne Legion, was in command of the parade which was marshalled by Mr. J. Tetlow, and which, in addition to a good muster of Legion members, included representatives of the Police (heading the Parade)...' [Having then described the service at the church, the report continued]: 'On reassembling after the service the parade marched to the War Memorial Arch, via Church Street and St. John Street, where a short service was conducted by Canon Farrow. Two Plaques bearing the names of Ashburnians who fell in the recent war have been placed alongside the Plaques of the first world war, and Councillor G. E. Gather, Chairman of the War Memorial Committee, requested Mrs. Redvers Wibberley (who lost two sons in the war) to unveil them, after which they were dedicated by Canon Farrow. Mr. R. S. Bury then recited Lawrence Binyon's lines, prior to which Bugler J. Wibberley sounded the "Last Post," and afterwards "The Reveille." The names of the fallen inscribed on the Plaques are as follow...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003323/19491111/073/0008

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1109552?section=official-list-entry