Barking Park War Memorial

Materials: Portland stone, bronze, marble.

Description: the memorial stands in the rond point of a path in the North-West part of Barking Park. It comprises a three-stepped flagstone pavement with a centrally positioned pylon and curved, flanking, walls. The 3m tall pylon features a centrally-positioned stone laurel wreath carved in relief which is flanked by the inscribed and gilt dates 1914 1918. A plaque is fixed below the wreath and reads IN GRATITUDE TO ALL/ WHO SERVED, AND IN HONOUR/ OF THE MEN OF BARKING WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR. Inscribed and gilded below this plaque are the dates 1939-1945.

The 3m tall flanking walls, bearing carved and gilt inscriptions, end in terminal piers. The walls carry 14 bronze name plaques. On the rear of the pylon an inscription reads THIS MAST WITH FLAGS WAS PRESENTED TO THE TOWN OF BARKING BY/ ARTHUR W. SMITH, ESQ., ON THE CONCLUSION OF PEACE AS A TOKEN OF/ REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE OF OUR TOWN WHO SERVED IN HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES/ DURING THE GREAT WAR OF 1914-18 OF WHOM MANY WERE WOUNDED AND/ OTHERS GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY BEING THE MEANS OF SAVING/ OUR NATION AND EMPIRE, PROTECTING US AND OUR HOMES AND STANDING/ FOR JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE WORLD./ JULY 19 1919 This inscription refers to a flagpole on the central pylon, which was part of the original design but is now missing.