Hatfield War Memorial including memorial cross, garden wall and gates, and shelter pavilion

Hatfield War Memorial

This Grade II* listed First World War memorial was designed by the architect Sir Herbert Baker. It comprises a Portland stone memorial cross set within a brick-walled, gated memorial garden, together with a brick and tile shelter pavilion containing commemorative tablets.

The memorial garden is situated on the east side of the Great North Road, immediately north-west of the gates, screens and gateposts to Hatfield Park and north of the statue by Frampton of the Third Marquis of Salisbury (who served three times as Prime Minister). The Grade I-registered park of Hatfield House lies in close proximity.

The garden is enclosed on its north, west and south sides by a brick wall with intermediate taller piers capped with pitched tiles. The lower part of the wall is laid in English bond, transitioning via moulded bricks to Flemish bond in the upper section. The southern arc contains wrought iron gates with plain vertical bars, spiked dog-rails, and two medallions bearing the town badge inscribed "HATFIELD TOWN COUNCIL". The eastern side is enclosed by a clipped yew hedge.

The Portland stone memorial cross features a wheel-head rising from a moulded collar on an octagonal shaft. The wheel-head circlet is formed by roses and lilies (representing England and France) that trail down the Latin cross head to the top of the shaft. The shaft ends in a moulded foot standing on an octagonal plinth, which itself rests on a low octagonal pavement.

The pavilion stands at the north end of the garden, extending northwards beyond the garden boundary. It is rectangular in plan with three bays, built of red brick in English bond with red tile details. The two side walls and rear wall are solid, whilst the front comprises three round-headed arches. The central arch extends to ground level; the two side arches are closed by dwarf walls. A hipped roof of plain clay tiles covers the building, left open internally to display the timberwork. The floor is laid in herringbone brickwork.

Portland stone tablets supported by shallowly projecting brick piers are fixed to the west, north and east interior walls. The west tablet bears the inscription "WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 1939–1945" with 44 names. The north tablet reads "THANKS BE TO GOD WHICH GIVETH US THE VICTORY MCMXIV–MCMXIX" with recorded names. The east wall contains three separate tablets: one inscribed "WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 1939–1945" (15 names); one recording victims of enemy action on 3rd October 1940 (21 names); one for victims of enemy action on 22nd September 1944 (4 names); and one for victims of enemy action on 10th October 1944 (9 names). Service personnel are recorded with rank, unit, date and place of death.

The pavilion was designed as a shelter building similar to those in Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries, following principles established by Sir Frederic Kenyon in 1918. The three arched openings are enclosed by metal railings. The garden includes benches and litter bins.