The Memorial Trail

Four waymarkers have been installed in and around Emsworth each of the same basic design but with an individual plaque in the base representing different aspects of life in past times.
Details of the trail - below.

The Memorial Trail Sculptures in solid stainless steel were designed by  Michael Johnson of Cartmel Johnson, Doncaster: www.cartmel-johnson.co.uk

The 3 metre high sculpture (left) depicts a uniformed man in the drill position ' Rest on the Arms Reversed'. The image is called 'Absence' and is sited to remember all those local people who have died throughout the world in the name of peace, justice and whilst giving aid in times of conflict and crisis.

 Download the Memorial Trail Map as a pdf file HERE

The Trail

Begin following the trail from the Harbour at the bottom of South Street.

Waymarker 1:
Situated on the Mill Pond wall the first waymarker stands near the tidal mill where Quay Mill was constructed after 1760 which supplied flour to the Navy, Portsmouth and London has a bronze cast of oysters at its base.

Emsworth was an important area for Oyster beds, the trade being formally recognised in the 1870's by the establishment of the Emsworth Oysters Dredgers Cooperative. The oyster industry died in 1902 during the Great Oyster Scare after guests at a Winchester banquet became ill and the Dean of Westminster died!

Waymarker 2:
To find Waymarker 2 travel approximately 215 metres northwards up South Street to St Peter's Square.
Situated within historic St Peter's Square, waymarker 2 has an image of fruit and vegetables depicted in the bronze cast at its base. The inspiration for this was taken from Emsworth's long history of markets on this site. In a charter of 1239 right was granted to hold a market every Wednesday which was sited where St Peter's Square is now. Emsworth's Food Festival uses this space as the central venue for their annual food festival.

Waymarker 3:
To find Waymarker 3, travel approximately 200 metres northwards up High Street using the A259 underpass to reach the waymarker on the far side of the roundabout.
Situated at the northern end of the A259 underpass, this waymarker's bronze cast depicts traditional tools of trades associated with the historical trade origins of Emsworth. The many workshops to be found in Emsworth during the 19th century included furniture making, coach building, boot making, tailoring and smithying, to accompany the trade in corn, timber and coal. The core industries of Emsworth's beginnings still existed and there were two large sawmills, a shipbuilding industry as well as companion industries such as rope, fish net, sail and twine making.

The Memorial Garden and Sculpture "Absence"
The Memorial Garden and sculpture can be found by travelling northwards up North Street passing under the railway bridge and A27 bridge into Horndean Road. This site is approximately 700 metres from waymarker 3.

Waymarker 4:
To find Waymarker 4 continue  northwards up Horndean Road. Waymarker 4 is approximately 900 metres from the Memorial Garden.
 

Situated at the junction of Horndean Road and Southleigh Road this waymarker depicts a coiled rope within the bronze cast.

The rope industry of Emsworth served the Portsmouth Dockyard. Rope-walks consisted of a 'twisting machine,' carrying several revolving hooks and a 'sledge,' with one fixed hook. Groups of yarns ran between these two sets of hooks which could be up to 300 metres apart. The revolving hooks were turned either by hand or by a small motor, twisting the yarns together to form a strand.


 

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