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Commonwealth Memorial Gates

Commonwealth Memorial Gates is a war memorial in central London, located at the end of Constitution Hill on the corner of Hyde Park. Opened in 2002, it commemorates soldiers of the British Empire from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Africa, and the Caribbean who served in the First and Second World Wars. The memorial consists of four four-sided Portland stone columns, each 5.4 metres high, topped with bronze urns, together with an adjoining pavilion. The sides of the columns list the countries involved, while stone plaques and the dome ceiling carry inscriptions naming campaigns and decorated war participants. It also bears a line by Ben Okri: “Our future is greater than our past.”

Commonwealth Memorial Gates beside a tree-lined avenue at Hyde Park Corner, London.
The Commonwealth Memorial Gates stand beside a broad, tree-lined road at Hyde Park Corner in London.
February 2010 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Commonwealth Memorial Gates at dusk, with a domed pavilion, four lit stone pillars topped by flames, and bare trees against a blue sky.
The Commonwealth Memorial Gates illuminated at dusk, with flaming pillars and a domed pavilion framed by winter trees.
March 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Commonwealth Memorial Gates with stone pillars, urns, and a domed pavilion beside a paved path.
The Commonwealth Memorial Gates in Constitution Hill, shown with stone pillars, urns, and the domed pavilion nearby.
March 2007 © · CC BY-SA 2.0
Commonwealth Memorial Gates with four stone pillars and urns along a paved street in London.
The Commonwealth Memorial Gates stand beside Constitution Hill in London, with stone pillars, urns, and a tree-lined street nearby.
April 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Commonwealth Memorial Gates stone pillar with the inscription “Our future is greater than our past” by Ben Okri.
A close-up of the Commonwealth Memorial Gates shows Ben Okri’s inscription carved into the stone.
October 2013 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleCommonwealth Memorial Gates
Typewar memorial; memorial gates
Also known asMemorial Gates

Historical context

Dedicated toSoldiers of the British Empire from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Africa, and the Caribbean who served in the First and Second World Wars

Creator

ArchitectsLiam O'Connor Architects and Planning Consultants
Project conceived byMemorial Gates Trust
PatronPrince Charles (then Prince of Wales)
TrusteesLord Inge; Lord Sandberg; Viscount Slim; Neil Thorne; Lord Weatherill; Baroness Flather; Khalid Aziz; Lakshmi Niwas Mittal; Harpinder Singh Narula (chairman); Gulam Noon; Anwar Pervez

Discovery and provenance

FundingNational Lottery through the Millennium Commission
BuilderGeoffrey Osborne Ltd.
Cost£2.8 million
StonemasonsCWO Ltd.
First stone laid byQueen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Opened byQueen Elizabeth II
Opened6 November 2002
Construction started1 August 2001

Physical characteristics

DescriptionSmall commemorative pavilion with four four-sided columns and an adjoining pavilion
Column height5.4 metres
Number of names engraved74

Materials

Other materialStone plaques
FinialsBronze urns with gas flames
Main materialPortland stone

Appearance

Column inscriptionsNames of war-participant countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Caribbean Islands, and the Kingdom of Nepal
Plaque inscriptionsMilitary campaigns of the First and Second World Wars
Dome ceiling inscriptionsNames of war participants awarded the George Cross and the Victoria Cross
Additional inscription"Our future is greater than our past" by Ben Okri
Honorific names mentionedGeorge Cross; Victoria Cross
Named recipients by awardWorld War I Victoria Cross recipients: 23; World War II George Cross recipients: 12; World War II Victoria Cross recipients: 39

Location and ownership

LocationHyde Park Corner end of Constitution Hill, London, United Kingdom, on the edge of Hyde Park, Green Park side

History and restoration

Opening inscriptionStates that the opening took place in the year of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II's reign