Duffield Memorial

MATERIALS: Copper alloy sheet metal in rivetted sections formed around a masonry core.

DESCRIPTION: The memorial stands in the churchyard of the parish church of St Mary, Great Baddow, approximately 75m to the east of the church. It consists of a Celtic wheel cross on a four-sided base designed in an art nouveau style and made from rivetted metal plate with raised seams encasing a masonry core. The cross-shaft curves towards the foot which has gently curved, splayed edges which are also found on the ogee lines of the base. The wheel contains pierced, inset relief foliate decoration. The cross formerly had a medallion rivetted to the centre of the west side which has been removed. The cross sits within a rectangular plot bordered by kerbs of the same construction with short pillars at each corner.

There are two copper plaques riveted to the base of the monument with raised lettering in a style characteristic of the period. The west-facing plaque reads: IN LOVING MEMORY OF/MARIANNE DUFFIELD/BORN MAY 7TH 1827 DIED JUNE 22ND 1910/WILLIAM WARD DUFFIELD/BORN NOVEMBER 25TH 1820 DIED AUGUST 17TH 1912/‘LUX PERPETUA LUCEAT EIS’

The east facing plaque, a later addition at the base of the monument reads: ALSO IN LOVING MEMORY OF/WILLIAM BARTLEET DUFFIELD/BORN JANUARY 9TH 1861/DIED AT AIX LES BAINS FRANCE/JUNE 3RD 1918