Plaque | War dead | WW1

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - James Morton Anderson

Inscription

In memoriam, James Morton Anderson, 2nd Lt. RFA, killed in action near Arras, 1 May 1917.

This stone was unveiled by Mrs Anderson.

1925: The South Ward was erected and the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Anderson. The memorial tablet to Anderson was mounted above the entrance door of the South Ward. Probably this was an interior door into the ward from the memorial entrance hall.

Site: Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial and others (10 memorials)

N8, Park Road, 151, Hornsey Central Health Centre

There are 10 memorials in this area around the the war memorial building in our photo. The two pier heads are to the right of the building, at the entrance to a small area of grass which contains 3 uncomfortable-looking benches which seem to be constructed from other architectural stone-work from the demolished buildings.

The two VC pavement plaques are laid in the terrace to the right of the war memorial building.

To the right of the steps there is a disabled access ramp, the walls of which have been used to hold the other 6 plaques, rescued from the old buildings.

From the magnificent Lost Hospitals of London: The Hornsey Cottage Hospital was built by Hornsey Borough Council on land donated by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The foundation stone was laid in 1907 but the Hospital did not open until 1910. See this 1910 map.

The building was extended in 1924 as part of a War Memorial for those killed during WW1. See this 1935 map. In 1927 it changed its name to Hornsey Central Hospital because of nursing staff recruitment problems - nurses were unwilling to work in a 'cottage' hospital. The Hospital was further extended in 1938 and again in 1956. It closed in 2001 and the buildings became derelict and were squatted until 2007, when demolition began.

From the Imperial War Museum we understand that in 1925 (or 1924 according to the stone itself) the South Ward (the War Memorial extension according to the stone itself) was erected and the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Anderson. Seems likely that the memorial stone for James Anderson, financed by his mother, was unveiled at the same ceremony. 

Hornsey Historical Society has a photo of the war memorial building and other hospital buildings which have since been demolished. This article describes how residents were involved in deciding on the form that the Hornsey war memorial should take. They voted overwhelmingly for this building "the hospital entrance on the main road (Park Road) would have a special feature, ‘of an artistic memorial design’, with an entrance hall hung with marble tablets recording the names of the Fallen". The War Memorial building was opened on Armistice Day, 11th November 1921 and dedicated by the Bishop of Willesden.

The IWM site seems to suggest that the building in our photograph is the 'Hornsey memorial chapel' but we don't think that's right - there are no religious symbols on the building, nothing church-like at all, and the HHS article makes no mention of a memorial chapel.

The Wellcome Collection holds the hospital's 1929 Annual Report which has a good photo showing the layout of the buildings on Park Road.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - James Morton Anderson

Subjects commemorated i

Second Lieutenant James Morton Anderson

James Morton Anderson was born on 27 June 1886 at 9 Ella Road, Crouch End, Lo...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - James Morton Anderson

Created by i

Sarah Reid Anderson

The Wellcome Collection holds the Hospital's 1929 Annual Report which lists J...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - James Morton Anderson

Also at this site i

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1907

To the glory of God and for the healing for the poor this stone was laid on 7...

Read More

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1911

Hornsey Central Hospital - foundation stone, 1911

This is probably the 'opening' stone for the hospital which was begun in 1907...

Read More

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial

This plaque is placed above the door of the War Memorial building. It seems t...

Read More

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Brett Cloutman VC

Hornsey Central Hospital war memorial - Brett Cloutman VC

{Beneath a representation of the Victoria Cross medal:} Major Brett Cloutman,...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Frankie Howerd

Frankie Howerd

W8, Edwardes Square, 27

Frankie Howerd OBE, 1917 - 1992, comedian lived here, 1966 - 1992. The Dead Comics Society

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Gracie Fields - Prince of Wales Theatre

Gracie Fields - Prince of Wales Theatre

SW1, Coventry Street, Prince of Wales Theatre

True to form Gracie sang to the workman as part of the job. Photos at The Official Gracie Fields.

2 creators
Frank Matcham - Richmond

Frank Matcham - Richmond

TW9, Little Green, Richmond Theatre

Frank Matcham (1854 - 1920) theatre architect, designed this theatre. Frank Matcham Society

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Rookfield Garden Village

Rookfield Garden Village

N10, Cranmore Way

{On the small plaque:} To mark the centenary of Rookfield Garden Village Ltd incorporated 28th August 1913. {On the larger plaque} Willi...

2 subjects commemorated
Lloyd-Baker plaque

Lloyd-Baker plaque

WC1, Lloyd Street

As indicated by the local street names, the Lloyd Baker family owned this area of land for about 250 years until the 1950s.  They develop...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Disabled Soldiers & Sailors (Hackney) Foundation

Disabled Soldiers & Sailors (Hackney) Foundation

Also known as War Seal (Hackney) Foundation, this scheme was inspired by Sir Oswald Stoll's War Seal Mansions. The Foundation was formed after WW1 by G. F. J. Macleod, after a meeting held at Hackn...

Group, Armed Forces, Social Welfare

2 memorials
Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America

Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America

This organisation seems to incorporate the Theatre and Film Guild of Great Britain and America. Wikipedia gives an overview of this charity's activities. 2025: the Guild let us know that their new...

Group, Music / songs, Theatre

11 memorials
Philippine Marthe Anne Marie de Gérin-Ricard

Philippine Marthe Anne Marie de Gérin-Ricard

Philippine de Gérin-Ricard was born on 4 October 1992 in Nimes, Gard, France. She was the sixth of the seven children of her parents, Pierre Christian Marie de Gérin-Ricard (b.1954) and Anne Boudet...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy, France

1 memorial
90 martyr Friends buried in Quaker Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

90 martyr Friends buried in Quaker Bunhill Fields Burial Ground

Died in London prisons and were buried in Quaker Bunhill Fields Burial Ground.

Group, Religion, Tragedy

1 memorial
Bedford College for Women, University of London

Bedford College for Women, University of London

Founded by Elizabeth Jesser Reid as the Ladies College, the first higher education college for women.  In 1900 it became part of the University of London and in 1913 moved to larger purpose built p...

Group, Education, Gender Issues

2 memorials