Geograph - photograph every grid square

An unusual feature of the Abbey Parish of St Albans, thought to be unique in the UK: ten small World War 1 Memorials, commemorating the dead of individual streets in the parish.

The fact that St Albans Abbey is a diocesan cathedral as well as a parish church meant that priority was given to its former role when commemorating the dead of the First World War, with a diocesan book of remembrance being set up. It was perhaps the fact that this led to a gap at parish level that led to the dedication of local memorials around the parish, rather than one in the parish church itself (i.e. the Abbey).

It is not clear who came up with the idea, but it was supported by Canon George Glossop, who served on the staff of the Abbey and who lost two of his three sons in the war, both named on the High Street memorial - see TL1407 : World War 1 Street Memorial, High Street).

The memorials were dedicated in three batches in 1920 and 1921, with a total of 110 men commemorated.

After years of neglect, including the defacing of the Dagnall Street memorial, the City Council took responsibility for the memorials in 1964.

With thanks to "The Street Memorials of St Albans Abbey Parish" by Alice Goodman for some of the information contained here.

For a slide show of all 10 memorials with their individual descriptions, see Link.