Colchester War Memorial (including lamp columns, walls, gates, piers, railings and posts)

The Colchester War Memorial and its associated structures occupy Cowdray Crescent at the entrance to Castle Park on Colchester High Street, forming a symmetrical composition. A short paved approach to the memorial is flanked by a pair of Portland stone Ionic columns, each topped with an iron lantern.

The memorial itself stands at the centre of the crescent. It comprises a tall classical Portland stone pedestal rising from a three-tier granite base. The pedestal is surmounted by a bronze statue of winged Victory standing on a globe, holding an inverted sword and a laurel wreath. Curved projections extend from the east and west sides of the pedestal: the eastern carries a bronze statue of St George with sword and shield; the western carries a statue of Peace holding a dove. The upper angles of the pedestal are carved with festoons and cherub heads with elongated wings.

The front (south) face of the pedestal bears a raised bronze plaque with a wreathed head carrying the City arms. The inscription in Roman lettering reads: TO THE / GLORIOUS / MEMORY / OF THE MEN / OF / COLCHESTER WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 18 / THEY STROVE FOR PEACE / THEY SERVED / FOR FREEDOM / THEY DIED TO LIVE. Beneath this is a further plaque stating: THE NAMES OF 1263 MEN OF COLCHESTER / HERE COMMEMORATED ARE INSCRIBED / ON VELLUM AND DISPLAYED INSIDE THE / PRINCIPAL ENTRANCE AT THE TOWN HALL.

The north face bears a bronze plaque inscribed: TO THE / HONOUR / OF THE / MEN & WOMEN / OF / COLCHESTER / WHO STOOD FOR / KING & COUNTRY / & BEARING ARMS / OR BY THEIR WORK / HELPED TO WIN / THE WAR / 1914 – 18. / THANKS BE TO GOD / WHO GAVE US / THE VICTORY. Below this is a plaque reading: AND TO HONOUR ALSO / THOSE WHO WORKED, SERVED / AND DIED IN THE FURTHER WAR OF / 1939 – 1945. A third plaque commemorates: TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES FROM COLCHESTER / KILLED ON DUTY OR AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST ACTION / SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

The entrance to Castle Park comprises a fine set of wrought-iron gates flanked by quadrant walls with stone copings. The walls are built in multi-coloured brick and terminate at each end with a shallow scrolled return. The central pair of gates features an elaborate scrolled overthrow bearing a relief of the Cowdray coat of arms and motto 'DO WITH THY MIGHT'. The lower gates on either side have openwork piers: the left gate displays a roundel with the Colchester City arms; the right gate carries a cartouche with a raven, the emblem of the Portreeve of Colchester. The railings consist of scrolled wrought-iron panels with fleurs-de-lys finials.

At each quadrant end of the wall, aligning with the memorial, stands a tall stone pier with sunken panelled sides and festoon ornament at the head, surmounted by a bronze lion and shield. The terminal pier at the wall's west end is surmounted by a stone urn; at the east end the wall abuts the garden walls of Hollytrees Mansion. On either side of the memorial stands a fence of low granite posts and chain links.