Udney Park Playing Fields and Pavilion (former)

Gates and rear of Pavilion - Taken by F Jones 10 Mar 2020

Report this image
Since my last visit the fields are open but the building has been boarded up. - Taken by F Jones 14 Jul 2020

Report this image
Since my last visit, the building has been boarded - Taken by F Jones 14 Jul 2020

Report this image
Anti-climb wire, windows boarded, clock face removed. - Taken by F Jones 14 Jul 2020

Report this image
Front of pavilion - Taken by F Jones 14 Jul 2020

Report this image
Rear of memorial - Taken by F Jones 14 Jul 2020

Report this image

Submit a new image

Reference WMO/223923

Address:

Udney Park

Teddington

TW11 9HN

England

Open large map

War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Non freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace

Description: Park

Materials:

Brick Brick

Lettering: Other

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: There is no legal definition of a war memorial. This means there can be some debate as to whether something is a war memorial or not. If you go to the What is a war memorial page accessed via the About us section of the website (link on the menu at the top of this page) this provides more detail. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer as people will feel differently. Ultimately decisions about what happens to a war memorial are made by the owner/custodians but War Memorials Trust would always encourage community involvement especially in cases where the war memorial was funded by public donations. As War Memorials Online is a website reliant on people adding records it will include war memorials which are debated as those who feel they are will add them. War Memorials Trust will remove records where appropriate or edit the record, such as we have done in this case, to highlight when there is debate. This addresses a potential cycle of records being removed then added again. Any changes to a locked record will require evidence so if you feel details are wrong on locked records please contact the Trust with the evidence and we can make changes. We will not make changes based on opinion or a verbal request as we like it to be based on evidence. Udney Park War Memorial Playing Fields were originally established as a war memorial and recreation ground for orphans of the Merchant Taylors school in c1919-1922. The war memorial pavilion was designed by Reeves and Schooling c1924. When the school relocated c1935 the war memorial inscriptions and name boards were relocated. Many feel this means it is no longer a war memorial, including the school. Others however feel that the playing fields retain a war memorial function ashtye were dedicated as such. In 1938 the Playing Fields were donated by Lord Beaverbrook for the 'playing of amateur rugby' in perpetuity, principally for the students of St Mary's Hospital Medical School. Inside the pavilion memorials were added for notable St Mary's alumni that gave their lives in Service in World War II, which have been relocated. The site is currently privately owned . It has previously been owned by Imperial College, who bought it off St Mary’s Paddington Hospital.

Report a concern with this memorial

Report a duplicate memorial record

Report an inappropriate record

Submit a condition update

Condition Level:

Comments:

The playing fields, pavilion and memorial boards have been rededicated twice at new locations. Firstly at Durrants in 1937 and then at Moors Park in 2011. The Imperial War Museum records two inscription boards at Moors Park. Both describe in clear terms the replacement of Udney Park and its Pavilion as a war memorial:

THIS HOUSE AND THE GROUNDS/REPLACE THOSE AT TEDDINTON/AS A WAR MEMORIAL/ ON THE PANELS ARE SET FORTH/THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE/THEIR LIVES IN TWO WARS.
 
The second, at Moor Park:  

THIS CLUBHOUSE ITS PAVILION/ AND PLAYING FIELDS REPLACE THE/ SPORTS GROUND AT TEDDINGTON 1922-1937 AND DURRANTS 1937/-2011 AS THE MEMORIAL/ TO ALL OLD MERCHANT TAYLORS AND/ SCHOOL STAFF WHO HAVE GIVEN/ THEIR LIVES IN WAR/ 

Whilst the grounds did indeed serve a memorial function between 1922 and 1937 , it is demonstrable that this function was replaced in 1937 and the grounds/pavilion are no longer a war memorial.

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Report this condition update

View more details

Condition Level:

Comments:

It is inaccurate content to say that because the original internal boards have been removed that the function of Udney Park as a War Memorial has ceased. The entire Park and Pavilion was funded by a War Charity to commemorate the fallen in WW1 from Merchant Taylors School.  Those that wish to destroy the Pavilion and build on Udney Park would prefer the status of War Memorial referred only to name-boards, that is simply not the case. 
 
On 31st October 1917 a meeting of Old Merchant Taylors (“OMTs”) and parents met at the Merchant Taylors Hall to “consider the most fitting method of perpetuating the memory of OMTs who have fallen in the war”. The meeting resolved “that a Committee be formed for the purpose of inviting donations to a fund to be applied as a lasting and visible record for those OMTs who have fallen in the war” with two purposes: “paying for the education of any son of an OMT who has fallen in the war or has been disabled” and the “erection of a permanent memorial”. On 31st October 1917 a new charity was registered under the War Charities 1916 Act.

On 9th Feb 1922 and 13th March 1922, the Fund bought 12 acres of land in Teddington, that was for recreation and allotments that were part of the Udney Park Estate. The land cost £3,257 and a further £4,359 was invested to adapt them to playing fields. Further funds were raised for the Pavilion, which cost £5,058, including a £2,000 loan from the RFU.

The “War Memorial Ground” was opened on 27th November 1922 by Viscount Cave, then the Lord Chancellor, and former WW1 Home Secretary. Among those present were two OMT Victoria Cross holders’, A.O. Pollard and J. C. Barrett. 311 fallen OMTs were commemorated. Udney Park is now 99 years old, it was opened as a War Memorial Park and Pavilion and remains one for all time. 

Pathe News and National Press reported the notable opening of Udney Park at the time in 1922, opened by the WW1 Home Secretary Lord Cave, with the Pavilion featuring in the 1924 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.It is clear that the entire site is a War Memorial as one of press articles said in 1922: "What a splendid idea that was, the MTS War Memorial Ground. So many things of the kind are either useless or ugly or sometimes both. It comes as a relief to find that OMTs had a far sounder idea, the purchase and equipment of a rugby ground at Teddington"

That Udney Park was subsequently bequeathed by Lord Beaverbrook in 1937 adds to its importance as a War Memorial for WW2. Beaverbrook’s intentions remain clear with covenants written in the strongest terms available in Law in 1937, stating that Udney Park must not be used for: “any other purpose than as a sports ground for the playing of games by amateurs, the chief game being amateur rugby union” (Land Registry). Beaverbrook became a pivotal figure in British history. Sensing the threat to Britain, Churchill appointed Beaverbrook to the WW2 cabinet specifically to lead Aircraft Production, which Beaverbrook transformed. After the Battle of Britain, in Churchill’s August 1940 “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” speech, he said in the next paragraph. “The splendid, nay, astounding, increase in the supply of aircraft which Beaverbrook has achieved by a genius for organisation and drive which looks like magic. He deserves the greatest praise from this House and the whole country”. In 1941 Churchill persuaded Beaverbrook, despite his failing health, to stay in the War cabinet and take on all Military Supplies including shipbuilding, writing to Beaverbrook: “I am placing my entire confidence, and to a large extent the life of the state upon your shoulders”.

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Report this condition update

View more details

Grants to support the repair and conservation of war memorials are available from the charity War Memorials Trust if it has raised funds. Support is focused on war memorials in Very bad or Poor condition or where there is a serious Concern.

Before applying for a grant you should read the advice available on War Memorials Trust`s website. The What we can and cannot fund helpsheet explains what types of work the charity can fund.

If you believe your project is eligible for a grant you should complete the Pre-application enquiry form. You will need to be registered and logged in to complete this.

The Pre-application enquiry form is a series of questions to see if your project is eligible. If it is, you will need to provide further details and submit current colour photographs of the war memorial in either a png, gif, jpg or jpeg format.

You can save your Pre-application enquiry form as you go along. Once submitted War Memorials Trust will respond.

Please be aware that a summary of your enquiry, without your contact details, will appear on this page once submitted. This ensures others are aware that an enquiry has been made and can read the response to avoid duplicate enquiries. Information provided by you to us will be used for the purpose of managing the grant enquiry, for further details please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy .

pre-application

As a charity, War Memorials Trust relies on voluntary donations and every contribution, no matter how large or small, makes a really big difference to our work. Your donation will help protect and conserve war memorials for future generations so please support War Memorials Trust’s work.

donate here

Submit a new comment

Comments:

It is inaccurate content to say that because the original internal name boards have been removed that the function of Udney Park as a War Memorial has ceased. The entire Park and Pavilion was funded by a War Charity to commemorate the fallen in WW1 from Merchant Taylors School.  Those that wish to destroy the Pavilion and build on Udney Park would prefer the status of War Memorial referred only name-boards, that is simply not the case. 
 
On 31st October 1917 a meeting of Old Merchant Taylors (“OMTs”) and parents met at the Merchant Taylors Hall to “consider the most fitting method of perpetuating the memory of OMTs who have fallen in the war”. The meeting resolved “that a Committee be formed for the purpose of inviting donations to a fund to be applied as a lasting and visible record for those OMTs who have fallen in the war” with two purposes: “paying for the education of any son of an OMT who has fallen in the war or has been disabled” and the “erection of a permanent memorial”. On 31st October 1917 a new charity was registered under the War Charities 1916 Act.

On 9th Feb 1922 and 13th March 1922, the Fund bought 12 acres of land in Teddington, that was for recreation and allotments that were part of the Udney Park Estate. The land cost £3,257 and a further £4,359 was invested to adapt them to playing fields. Further funds were raised in a new “Pavilion Fund”, which cost £5,058, including a £2,000 loan from the RFU.

The “War Memorial Ground” was opened on 27th November 1922 by Viscount Cave, then the Lord Chancellor, and former WW1 Home Secretary. Among those present were two OMT Victoria Cross holders’, A.O. Pollard and J. C. Barrett. 311 fallen OMTs were commemorated. Udney Park is 99 years old, it was opened as a War Memorial Park and Pavilion and remains one for all time. 

Pathe News and National Press reported the opening of Udney Park at the time, which makes clear that the entire site is a War Memorial, "What a splendid idea that was, the MTS War Memorial Ground. So many things of the kind are either useless or ugly or sometimes both. It comes as a relief to find that OMTs had a far sounder idea, the purchase and equipment of a rugby ground at Teddington"

That Udney Park was subsequently bequeathed by Lord Beaverbrook in 1937 adds to its importance as a War Memorial for WW2. Beaverbrook’s intentions remain clear with covenants written in the strongest terms available in Law in 1937, stating that Udney Park must not be used for: “any other purpose than as a sports ground for the playing of games by amateurs, the chief game being amateur rugby union” (Land Registry). Beaverbrook became a pivotal figure in British history. Sensing the threat to Britain, Churchill appointed Beaverbrook to the WW2 cabinet specifically to lead Aircraft Production, which Beaverbrook transformed. After the Battle of Britain, in Churchill’s August 1940 “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” speech, he said in the next paragraph. “The splendid, nay, astounding, increase in the supply of aircraft which Beaverbrook has achieved by a genius for organisation and drive which looks like magic. He deserves the greatest praise from this House and the whole country”. In 1941 Churchill persuaded Beaverbrook, despite failing health, to stay in the War cabinet and take on all Military Supplies including shipbuilding, writing to Beaverbrook: “I am placing my entire confidence, and to a large extent the life of the state upon your shoulders”.

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Comments:

War memorial function ceased when the commemorative panels listing Old Merchant Taylor's fallen was moved to Durrants in 1937 and rededicated. The panels subsequently moved again in 2011 and were rededicated in their current location, the clubhouse at Moors Park. The inscription on the panels now reads:

THIS CLUBHOUSE ITS PAVILION/ AND PLAYING FIELDS REPLACE THE/ SPORTS GROUND AT TEDDINGTON 1922-1937 AND DURRANTS 1937/-2011 AS THE MEMORIAL/ TO ALL OLD MERCHANT TAYLORS AND/ SCHOOL STAFF WHO HAVE GIVEN/ THEIR LIVES IN WAR/ THE MERCHANT TAYLORS COMPANY/ MERCHANT TAYLORS SCHOOL AND/ THE OLD MERCHANT TAYLORS SOCIETY/ HAVE PLEDGED TO PRESERVE/ THIS MEMORIAL SPORTS GROUND/ FOR THE USE OF OLD MERCHANT TAYLORS/ AND THE SCHOOL.

The Pavilion and grounds ceased to be referred to as Old Merchant Taylor's war memorial pavilion and grounds in 1937 when the site was acquired by St Mary's and the panels moved. Land registry documents in 1937 describe the pavilion and grounds as: 'The Pavilion and St Mary's Hospital Medical School Athletic Ground'

Submitted by:

Submitted date:

Submit a new link

Report this link

Suggest information

Listing grade:

Information Required

Listing URL:

Information Required

Unique listing reference number:

Information Required

Conservation area:

Information Required

Local list / Historic environment record:

Information Required

Claim Custodianship

Custodian name:

Information Required

Custodian website:

Information Required