Regarded as the finest war memorial in Britain, this stunning work is situated in Northernhay Gardens near to the remains of Rougemont Castle. Designed and sculpted by the Exonian artist John Angel, it was erected in 1923, and includes a plinth & pedestal made with granite excavated from Haytor Quarry on Dartmoor. Four bronze statues sit on each of the cross points and a bronze statue representing victory stands on the top.
The above photo shows three of the four figures, the V.A.D Nurse, the Prisoner and the Soldier. The Prisoner not only depicts the prisoner of war, but also the work carried out by Lady Owen and other Exonians with prisoners of war in Germany. The fourth statue - the Sailor - represents Devon's connection to the sea and the part played in the war by the fishermen who helped to feed the nation, as well as sailors in the navy.
The V.A.D. nurse, below, is shown holding a bandage. By her side is a sheaf of corn and a shrapnel shell, depicting the other work of agriculture and armaments that women performed during WWI.
Northernhay Gardens is the oldest space in England purely dedicated to the public, originally laid out as a pleasure walk for the residents of Exeter in 1612, and is Grade II listed by English Heritage. Quarried in Roman times for stone to make the city walls, a stretch of Roman wall is still extant, along with the only length of Saxon wall remaining to be seen in Britain.
I took these photos on a grey, cloudy day in 1991 using b&w film, which was perfect for silhouettes and a moody atmosphere. It was an odd day when I had a morning appointment in Exeter and had to wait all afternoon for a lift home from a friend. Money was very tight and I only had enough to buy a sandwich and a carton of juice but I spent the time in Northernhay Gardens, taking photos and sketching parts of the castle walls and tower. It was magic!
And an additional photo showing the remains of Haytor Quarry where the granite for the plinth was excavated, including a fabulous old winch on the side of what is now a small lake. Coincidentally, I took this photo during a training course on Dartmoor later that same year, when our group built a raft and we each took turns to be pulled across the lake sitting on it. Great memories! :)
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