Tuesday 16th July 2024  

Quorn Village Memorials

Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Monument

The idea of a permanent Jubilee memorial arose from a village public meeting called to discuss the future of remaining funds following the commemorations. A suggestion from Mr W. A. Earley that the money should be contributed to a Parish Council scheme to convert the piece of land known as the "library site" into a Jubilee Garden. It was decided that at least part of the money should be used to buy a plaque or small monument for the garden to commemorate the 1977 Jubilee. Mr P. R Brookman suggested that young people in the area be asked to submit designs for the monument.

The rear of the monument carries a plaque entitled ‘The Bank’ which provides information about the area, ‘’the cottages on the bank’’ and the Quorn Town Lands charity.

Quorndon Cenotaph

This is a large squared column manufactured with Portland Whitbed stone which is durable and has a unique fossil structure. A St. George is carved on the top front face. WW1 slate plaques on front and rear face, WW2 slate plaque on side. The whole sits on two-tiered base.

The cenotaph was unveiled Sunday 24th July 1921 by Lieut Col WSN Toller DSO. Designed by Samuel Perkins Pick of Pick, Everard and Keay and Sculptured by Joseph Herbert Morcom. 96 men from Quorn lost their lives in the two World Wars (77 in World War I and 19 in World War II). It is Grade II listed.

Joseph Herbert Morcom was born

in Minera, near Wrexham, Denbighshire. His father, Joseph Bickford Morcom (1844 - 1880) was captain of the local lead mine. Joseph's son (also Joseph) worked first for a local firm of stonemasons, later securing a position with Norbury, Paterson & Co. of Liverpool. In the early 1890’s he enrolled at Liverpool School of Architecture and Applied Art and by 1904 he was appointed Assistant Modelling Master at the school. In 1910 he was appointed Modelling Master at Leicester School of Art and four years later bought a Newarke firm of stonemasons and monument sculptures, Pearson and Shipley, which he renamed The Plasmatic Company. Whilst working for the company, he continued to teach at the Leicester School of Art and sculpt independently. The costs raised by public subscription was just over £543.

US War Memorial Plaque

This plaque commemorates the lost US Servicemen and is in remembrance of those American soldiers who left from Quorn in 1944. The material is slate with gold inset lettering.

Nijmegen Stone

• Artist/Sculptor: Unknown
• Material: Stone
• Owner/Custodian: Quorndon Parish Council
• Status: Conservation Area
• Map Location: K

The stone was retrieved from the damaged Nijmegen church in Holland, the scene of a 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the US 82nd Airborne Division engagement in 1944. The attached plaque refers to the avenue of lime trees which was presented to the village by local businessman F.A.Stenson and dedicated in May 1952 to those in the US Forces stationed in the parish between 1939 and 1944 that did not return from their missions.

The stone was relocated from the centre of the footpath to its present site in 2011 at a cost of £430.

The Princess Diana Memorial

Diana, Princess of Wales (1 July 1961 - 31 August 1997) the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne, and the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry. The couple separated in 1992. She died after a car crash in a Paris tunnel in 1997. Her legacy has had a deep impact on the royal family and British society.

Following Quorn's two wins in successive years in Leicestershire's Best Kept Village competition, the Council embarked on an ambitious plan to 'green' the village. This bed built at the Stoop Lane/Soar Road junction was one of several situated around the village including those at Quorn Cross, Station Road shops, Farley Way/Woodhouse Road and Cradock Drive/Spinney Drive junctions. Proceeds from Quorn Open Gardens were donated to the Council for this purpose.

Return to Quorn Sculptures, Memorials and Artefacts.