Blue Plaque unveiled

On 23 October an enthusiastic group gathered in autumn sunshine for the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque at 43 Handside Lane, recording the fact that this was the first house to be occupied in Welwyn Garden City on 6 December 1920.

The plaque itself was the first to be put in place as a result of the current initiative by the Welwyn Hatfield Heritage Forum & Welwyn Hatfield Museum Service, inviting recommendations from the public for sites for new plaques within the Borough.

Dr Dennis Lewis, chair of the Heritage Forum introduced the formal proceedings, and commented on the appropriate coincidence with the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Welwyn Garden City.

The Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield, Cllr Howard Morgan then unveiled the plaque, followed by a few words from Museum Curator Jenny Oxley, who organised the production and installation of the plaque. Thanks were given to Cllr Tony Kingsbury and Cllr Mandy Perkins who attended the unveiling representing the 90th birthday committee who funded the plaque.

First house to be occupied in Welwyn Garden City

On 23 October an enthusiastic group gathered in autumn sunshine for the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque at 43 Handside Lane, recording the fact that this was the first house to be occupied in Welwyn Garden City on 6 December 1920

Jack Catchpole C.B.E.

Founder and first secretary Y.H.A.
president lived here 1930 to 1971

Location: Meadow Green WGC

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Sir Theodore Chambers K.C.B.E.

Chairman of Welwyn garden City Ltd. The company which planned and esablished Welwyn Garden City.

Location: Guessens Road WGC

James Leslie Mitchell

Author, best known as
Lewis Grassic Gibson'

Location: Handside Lane WGC
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Sir Ebenezer Howard O.B.E.

Creator of Garden Cities.

Location: Guessens Road WGC.
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Sir Fredric Osborn

Town planer & writer, major influence on Garden City movement.

Location: Guessens Road WGC.
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C.B.Purdom.

Author & pioneer of Garden Cities; Finance director WGC.

Location: Parkway, WGC.
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Dame Flora Robson

Actress, worked at Shredded Wheat and acted as a guide there.

Location: Handside Lane, WGC
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Louis De Soissons

Architect and Town planner of Welwyn Garden City.

Location: Guessens Road WGC.
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Dr Albert Mansbridge

Educator and founder of Workers Educational Association

Location: High Oaks Area, Welwyn Garden City, Herts

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Richard Riess

Director WGC Ltd 1919 – 48: Vice chair WGC Development Corporation

Location: Brockswood Lane Area, Welwyn Garden City, Herts

J Kirkland Robertson

architect in the firm Louis De Soissons & Partners
Lived here 1977 - 1984

Location: Kirklands

'Daily Mail Model Village' sign

Wooden replica of previous bronze sign (1922) commissioned by Welwyn Garden City Society, unveiled September 1999 for Heritage open day.

Location: Opposite Meadow Green, WGC.

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Howard Memorial and garden.

Circular bronze memorial.
Sculptor James Woodford RA Commissioned by the WGC Development Corperation Unveilled 10 July 1964.

Location: Centre of Howardsgate between HSBC and The Cork Public House.

War Memorial

Cenotaph in stone made by Burgess Memorials of Hatfield.
Unveiled 8 May 1992

Location: Centre of Howardsgate near the Post Office

Anniversary Arch

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of founding of Welwyn Garden City in 1920.
Designed and Made by James Horrobin with associates Toby Peterson, Ged Kennet, John & Dominic Hesp and Gabrielle Ridler.

Commissioned by Welwyn & Hatfield District Council.

Unveiled: 27 April 1996

Location: Between John Lewis car park and Debenhams

Jubille Wall (1970)

Brick built wall to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of WGC. Gardens in memory of Louis De Soissons.

Formally opened by H.M.Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother 30 May 1970

Location: Campus

Semi-Circular white stone wall.

In Memory of Sir Theodore Chambers, KBE. Chairman of Welwyn Garden City Ltd 1920 - 1949
Unveiled 18 October 1961 by Lord Balniel MP

Location: Near John Lewis

Cherry Tree Sign

Cherry tree restaurant & Bar (Now Waitrose) Opened December 1932.
Replaced when Waitrose was built in 1987-91.

Designed by R.G. Muir

Location: Waitrose

Drinking Fountain and garden with seats

In memory of W.E.James 1919 – 1945

Engineer and surveyor to WGC. Erected 1949
3 wooden seats inscribed to Richard C Wallhead MP 1889 - 1934

Location: Near John Lewis ( Parkway)

"Celebrating a century of cinema 1996”

On this site stood the Welwyn Theatre. January 1928 – August 1983
Designed by Louis de Soissons & A W Kenyon.

Location: On the Charter House building,Parkway.

Coronation Fountain

Designed by Kenneth Peacock to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 1953. Sculptor Arthur Ayres

Location: Parkway

Tablets to Richard Reiss

In memory of Dick & Celia Reiss
Director of WGC Ltd 1919 – 48 and one of the founders of the town.

Foundation Stone

The Foundation stone of Welwyn Department Stores. Laid by Sir Theodore Chambers 12 July 1958

Location: East side of main entrance. John Lewis

Louis de Soissons(1890 – 1962)

“Garden City archietect”
Sculptor James Woodford. Formaly in the library. Placed in present position
1980

Commemorative stone

Inscribed stone of the exterior wall of north wing of former Canossian convent.Commamoratingthe fortieth anniversary of the arrival of the Cannossian Daughters of charity in Welwyn Garden City 1922 – 1962.

Location: 69 Parkway

Sculpture of St Francis

Scupture over north wing of St Francis of Assisi church.
Signed by David Evans. Commissioned by church 1938/9

Ebenezer Howard Bust

Rectangular bronze plague in wooden frame. Head in semi relief of Sir Ebenezer Howard. With words underneath ‘Ebenezer Howard Ki, KBE 1850 – 1928’ Designed by Mrs D.E. Elliston of Letchworth.

Location: Howard Centre, WGC, Herts

"AD ASTRA "

Sculpted in 1930’s.
Given anomymously to town in late 1940
Sculptor: Kathleen Scott.

Dawn

Un-commissioned Kneeling naked female figure
Carved c.1950
Sculptured by David Evans F.R.B.S. 1893 – 1959
Sculptor lived in WGC 1940 – 1959

Statue of St Bonaventure

Over the west door of St Bonaventures church.
Sculptor Philip Lindsey Clark

Location 71 Parkway.

Demeter & Hermes

Two Hollow cast bronze figures about 2m high.
Sculptor Hubert Yencesse, (b1900) Maker Morris singer Co Ltd Lambeth.

Commissioned by Parkway Land & Investments Ltd c 1965

Location:Outide the Howard Centre, WGC, Herts