The Stonehaven War Memorial was built in 1922 and commemorates the men and women who lost their lives in the Great War otherwise known as World War I.
The memorial sits on top of Black Hill, just a short walk from the town it’s a popular place to come and have a picnic and sit and enjoy the views up and down this amazing coastline.
Designed by local architect, John Ellis, it looks like a ruined temple. There are no records to give a clue as to why it is designed to look like this – perhaps it symbolises the ruined lives of those whose names are commemorated within it and the loved ones they left behind. Maybe it’s not ruined but simply unfinished, again symbolising those lives that were cut short by war – no one knows, but it is a stunning and serene place to visit.
The memorial itself was constructed using local sandstone, cut from the old quarry at the south end of Stonehaven’s harbour.
Take a walk around the outside and look up – carved into the lintels are the names of eight famous battles of the first world war: Mons, Jutland, Gallipoli, Zeebrugge, Marne, Somme, Vimy and Ypres.
Ascending the steps, we go through the gate and enter the memorial itself – in the centre is a triangular stone on which are inscribed the names of Stonehaven’s fallen. The names of those killed during the Second World War and other conflicts, are inscribed on stones that have been added to the inside of the temple.
We take our time to sit and admire the view from each window-like space between the temple’s columns; each view is different. Black Hill was donated to the community by Lady Cowdray, who owned most of the land around the town, including Dunnottar Castle, which is just a short walk along the coastal path – you can see it from here. You can also see the Sea Stack, a rock tower called Dunnicaer situated in Strathlethan Bay, immediately below the hill, where in 2014, the oldest ever known Pictish fort, dating back to the 3rd or 4th century was discovered.
Looking up once more to the lintels, there is an inscription; a quotation from Sankey’s “Student in Arms” it reads: “One by one death challenged them, they smiled in his grim visage and refused to be dismayed”.
If you are ever in the area, we would urge you to take the time to visit this beautiful place, a peaceful place where you can sit in quiet contemplation in awe of its magnificent surroundings. This place truly is a memorable memorial.
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