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Mooch was commissioned by the London Borough of Newham to create a low maintenance memorial garden in Hallsville Primary School in Canning Town, East London. The school had been used as a bomb shelter in the Second World War and took a direct hit resulting in the loss of around 70 lives, mostly women and children, who are now interned on site.
The theme of the garden is “Ascension”, a reference to the spirit of the deceased emerging from their place of rest. The seats rise and grow from the memorial garden, becoming an elegant spiral of polished granite seats circling outwards from the central tree. These sculptural granite forms, built in a traditional memorial material, finally disappear into the wall of the building, symbolising the connection of the deceased with their resting place.
The installation transforms a neglected garden in the centre of the school into a tranquil space for both staff and pupils to come and find peace and quiet. But this is not just a symbol for the souls that were lost, it is also a new space for the school. The ascending stones are of course different sized seats for different aged children, and also provide a sensory experience for children of all abilities.
On Tuesday 17th January 2006, Maureen Jones, the Civic Ambassador of Newham, who was born in the local area and girl herself at the time of the bombing, opened this significant new installation which is now a landmark part of local history.
David Oelman of Camden Consultancy Service for Camden Council attended the opening ceremony. On viewing the space he commented “I think the garden is excellent. A classic simple design that belies the amount of work, care and attention to detail that must have been given to it”.
Spiral of stones emerging from the solitary tree.
Smooth, polished granite creates a tactile and robust space.
Newham's Civic Ambassador opens the new garden.
Children present their work around the history of the garden
A new space in the school for the children to enjoy
The stones disappear into the fabric of the building.
The tree symbolises life and growth in the memorial space
Workshops with the children on the story behind the garden.
Some of the poignant responses from the children.