The war came to an end on 11 November 1918 with the
signing of the Armistice. In December three captured
German guns were displayed in the Market place as war
trophies; however, two weeks later these were removed
to the grounds of Clifden House since some of the
youngsters of the town were inspecting them rather
too closely.
In May 1919 Brentford Council held a special meeting
to consider the provision of a war memorial. The War
Memorials Committee raised a considerable sum of money,
which expended partly on the erection of a war memorial
outside Brentford Library, but mainly on the acquisition
of Carville Hall and its grounds as a War Memorial Hall
and public open space. (There is an earlier war memorial
inside Brentford Library commemorating the Brentford
men who lost their lives in the South African Campaign
1899-1902). Carville hall is shown as Clayponds Farm on
the Ealing map of 1777 The present house was probably
built in the early 19th century and by 1841 was owned
by John Thomas Hope. It passed eventually to his grandson
Herbert James Hope Edwardes who sold it to the Middlesex
Country council in 1918. By 1864 it was known as Clayponds
House and possessed several large fishponds but the name
had changed to Carville Hall by 1894. Brentford Council
paid the Middlesex County Council £9,500 to acquire the
house and the parts of the estate not needed for the
construction of the Great West Rd. The eastern gate to
Carville Hall was inscribed 'Brentford War Memorial Park
1914-18' but this entrance has now disappeared. At the
same time the council acquired the field known as 'Dead
men's Graves' the old plague pit through the generosity
of Brentford resident Mr T Stallabrass JP who purchased
it for the Council to use as a playing field. Carville
Hall and grounds were opened to the public in September
1923. A war memorial was erected outside St Lawrence's
church and in December 1920 another was unveiled inside
St George's church. This was described as a beautifully
carved oak screen, which stretched almost across the
church. It is there no longer, alas. The Congregation
and Methodist churches, the Gas Works, the Metropolitan
Water Works. The National Westminster Bank and the
Brentford Swimming Club also put up memorials to
commemorate members or staff. The memorial outside
Brentford Library lists 376 men who lost their lives in
World War 1. One Brentford-born man was decorated with
the Victoria Cross. This was Sgt Robert Spall of the
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern
Ontario Regt) who was killed in France on August 1918
aged 25. Festivities organised by the Peace Celebrations
Committee took place at Boston Park on 26th & 28th July
1919. Church bells were rung morning and afternoon and
about 1,500 ex service men were entertained to lunch, sports,
tea, concerts and dancing On the lawn on the 26th. On the
28th it was the turn of the widows and mothers of the fallen,
also the elementary schoolchildren One hundred and seventy
mothers and widows and 3,250 schoolchildren ran races,
watched Punch and Judy shows and ate lunch and tea.
I hope you enjoy the rest
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