Hampstead War Memorial

The war memorial comprises a Portland stone obelisk set on an octagonal plinth and three-stepped base. The base is surrounded by a narrow planted border and grassed area, which is in turn enclosed by a semi-circular low red brick wall capped with stone and accessed by two sets of three steps either side.

At the rear of the memorial is a low red brick wall topped with iron railings which separates the memorial enclosure from Heath House (listed Grade II*) to the north. Attached either side of the wall are two short red brick flanking walls some 3m high which serve to frame the obelisk. Both of these contain stone plaques with inscriptions.

The inscription on the north face of the obelisk reads: TO THOSE OF/ THIS BOROUGH/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/1914–1918.

The inscription on the south or front of the obelisk is carved in high relief with the Coat of Arms beneath which is inscribed: BOROUGH/ OF/ HAMPSTEAD.

On the flanking wall to the west of the obelisk is a stone plaque carved with a laurel wreath, underneath which is inscribed: 1914-1918/ 1939-1945/ IN THE LONG VISTA OF THE YEARS TO ROLL,/ LET ME NOT SEE OUR COUNTRY'S HONOUR FADE:/ O LET ME SEE OUR LAND RETAIN HER SOUL,/ HER PRIDE: HER FREEDOM: AND NOT FREEDOM'S SHADE./ KEATS.

On the flanking wall to the east of the obelisk is a stone plaque inscribed with Hampstead’s Coat of Arms with its motto ‘NON SIBI SED TOTI’ meaning ‘not for one self but for all’ while underneath is inscribed: THIS MONUMENT/ WAS HERE SET UP/ TO CALL TO MEMORY/ THE MEN AND WOMEN OF/ HAMPSTEAD/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN TWO GREAT WARS.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 9 February 2017.