FLOOD MEMORIAL TO BE REDEDICATED

A memorial garden is undergoing a redesign ready to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1953 North Sea flood.

Harwich Flood Memorial – Photo © Maria Fowler 2022

The garden has been tended by volunteers since it became home to the Harwich Flood Memorial – an armillary sphere sundial containing the names of the people from Harwich who died the night of January 31 and morning of February 1, 1953.

But Harwich Town Council’s Environment and Community Committee has now initiated and led a flood memorial garden project working, in partnership, with Tendring District Council (TDC), Harwich Haven Authority and the Harwich Society.

Committee chairman Cllr. Maria Fowler, said: “The sundial, mounted on a brick plinth, was donated to Harwich Town Council by former councillor Lawrie Payne and dedicated on February 1, 2013 to mark the 60th anniversary of the flood.

“The piece of open space where the memorial stands is owned by TDC and since 2013 has been looked after and maintained by various volunteers including a grandson of one of the victims.

“It has become known locally as the Flood Memorial Garden.

“But as a committee we agreed the space was in need of a redesign to make an area the community could sit, where visitors could learn about the flood and where the sundial memorial was the focal point.”

Costing £41,300, the work has been funded by contributions from TDC section 106 money, Harwich Town Council, and Harwich Haven Authority funded the audio post.

Harwich Mayor, Cllr. Ivan Henderson, said: “It’s been great seeing the work take shape at the garden.

“The sphere marks a tragic part of Harwich’s history, which caused devastation to the town, and deserves to be placed in a garden suitable to honour the lives lost that night.

“The memorial is now the centrepiece of the garden, with benches, information boards, lighting, new plantings, and decorative paving with the names of the victims carved into the stones.

“Once completed, it looks set to be a fitting tribute to the flood.”

The garden is set to be finished in time for a rededication of the memorial and official opening of the garden on February 1, 2023 – the 70th anniversary of the flood.

Relatives of victims and survivors are hoped to join town officials, funders, and members of the public for the ceremony at 11AM on Wednesday 1st February, St. Nicholas Church, Harwich.

A reception will follow in the 1912 Centre, where an exhibition will be presented by Harwich Town Council’s volunteer archivists, Ray Plummer and Anne Kemp-Luck.

Staff from TDC’s Public Realm team led the re-design work and carried out the groundworks and planting, while managing the commissioning of hard landscaping, lighting and the audio post.
Cllr Peter Harris, Tendring District Council Chairman, said: “The devastating 1953 floods really shaped our district – both physically such as with later flood defences, and our psyche – and it is important that we remember that as well as all those who sadly lost their lives.

“This garden, beautifully designed and created by all those involved, including the Tendring District Council’s open spaces team, does that so well and I hope it will be well-used as a place for reflection.”

Further information:

Marie Snell, Assistant Clerk, Harwich Town Council
Tel 01255 507211 Email [email protected]

Cllr. Maria Fowler, Harwich Town Council
Tel 07761 343771 Email [email protected]

Will Lodge, Communications Manager, Tendring District Council
Tel 01255 686338 Email [email protected]