Project Description
Plinth for new memorial, commemorating the ‘Kindertransport’
During the winter of 1938, the first 1000 unaccompanied, Jewish children of the ‘Kindertransport’, (The transportation of children), arrived at Parkeston Quay, near Harwich, fleeing the murderous intentions of the Nazis.
These were the first of 10,000 children, who subsequently arrived at the port and were temporarily housed throughout 1938/39 at the Warner’s Holiday Camp, Dovercourt bay, prior to finding new homes, some temporary, some permanent, throughout the UK.
To commemorate the safe arrival of these children, almost 80 years later the Harwich Kindertransport Memorial Learning trust, supported by both local and outside initiatives commissioned the new memorial, by eminent Sculptor Ian Wolter, to be sited on ‘The Quay’ at Harwich, within site of their disembarkation in 1938.
The bronze sculpture of five children disembarking, illustrates all manner of human emotions, felt by refugees, before and after.
The new sculpture joins others commemorating the journey of the Kindertransport throughout Nazi Europe and has quickly proved a major attraction and talking point in Harwich and the surrounding area.
Twenty Twelve Civils is proud and honoured to be associated with this project.
The 2-tonne, reinforced, concrete plinth approximately 1.2 x 2.2 x 0.700m with slope, sharp edges, and access steps were not the easiest of commissions, but our carpenter Paul Watsham proved equal to the task.
Shuttering of Phenolic plywood was used to achieve an overall smooth finish, a 1-4 concrete mix, using 10mm ballast, hand gauged and vibrated while pouring. The concrete was allowed to cure for 48 hours, before being eased and the shuttering was removed after four days. The plinth was then allowed to stand for a month before being drilled to receive the individual statues. Lifting points were cast on top and bottom to allow ‘slinging’ and final positioning.
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