Reasons for Designation
The War Memorial at Dulwich Old College, College Road in Dulwich is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural Interest: a good example of a memorial to The Fallen of the First World War; designed by the eminent architect, William Douglas Caröe;
* Historic Significance: the monument has very strong historic and cultural significance, on both a local and national scale;
* Group Value: the War Memorial has a strong visual and contextual relationship with a number of listed buildings at Dulwich Old College.
Details
636/0/10179 COLLEGE ROAD
19-MAY-10 Dulwich
War memorial at Dulwich Old College
GV II
First World War memorial, designed by William Douglas Caröe.
DESCRIPTION: The War Memorial, of Hoptonwood Stone, comprises a diamond entablature featuring Christ the King (on both the northern and southern sides), on a tall tapering shaft raised on a square pedestal and stepped octagonal four-tier plinth. The square pedestal has panel motifs on each side: those to the east and west are floral in design, whereas the southern one, facing the door of the chapel, is designed as a two-pane trefoil-headed window, with decorated pediment. The panel to the north illustrates the College Shield (part of the Coat of Arms - a shield with a chevron (bent bar) dividing three cinquefoils gules (red five pointed stars) with 'DETUR GLORIA / SOLI DEO', 'Let glory be given to God alone' the College Motto, inscribed above it.
The bottom three tiers of the plinth are undecorated. However, the top tier is inscribed with dedicatory lines. Encircling the top of the plinth, starting at the north-west corner, with raised letters, the inscription reads: 'IN HONOUR OF THE MEN / OF THIS FOUNDATION WHO / SERVED IN THE GREAT / WAR 1914-1919 AND IN / SOLEMN REMEMBRANCE / OF THOSE WHO DIED FOR / LIBERTY AND JUSTICE TO / THE GLORY OF GOD'. Below the inscription is a band of square floral and geometric motifs.
The War Memorial has a visual and contextual relationship with Dulwich Old College (Grade II) and the entrance gates and piers of Dulwich Old College (Grade II).
HISTORY: Dulwich College was founded by Edward Alleyn in 1619. The original college buildings at Dulwich Old College date from the C17, although they were extensively remodelled in the C19; in 1857 the old foundation was reformed, and new buildings were erected for the school approximately half a mile to the south by the younger Charles Barry in 1866-70.
The war memorial in the forecourt of the Old Dulwich College was designed by William Douglas Caröe (1857-1938) and dedicated to the memory of 'Old Alleynians' and 'Alleyn Old Boys' who fell in the First World War. It dates from 1921. In addition, a memorial in the form of oak panelling by Mr Lawrence Turner and inscribed with the names of The Fallen was erected in 1920 on the south wall of Christ's Chapel (listed as part of Dulwich Old College at Grade II) beneath the gallery. There is a separate war memorial at the new Dulwich College buildings.
SOURCES:
Foster, RS, Christ's Chapel of Alleyn's College of God's Gift at Dulwich, a short history (1956)
Freeman JM, W.D. Caröe: His Architectural Achievement (1990), 224.
REASONS FOR DESIGNATION:
The War Memorial at Dulwich Old College, College Road in Dulwich is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural Interest: a good example of a memorial to The Fallen of the First World War; designed by the eminent architect, William Douglas Caröe;
* Historic Significance: the monument has very strong historic and cultural significance, on both a local and national scale;
* Group Value: the War Memorial has a strong visual and contextual relationship with a number of listed buildings at Dulwich Old College.
This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 27 February 2018.
