It would be inappropriate for a series such as this not to make particular reference to the collection of nearly 1,000 war cemeteries designed and built on the Western Front by the then Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission.  Under the inspired leadership of its Director General Fabian Ware and with artistic supervision by Sir Frederic Kenyon, the IWGC planned and built some of the most beautiful and treasured architecture of the interwar years - an achievement that is sadly seldom featured in any books about British buildings of the C20.

 

Lutyens was one of four Principal Architects for the IWGC and his name can be ascribed to the design of 137 cemeteries in France and Belgium.  He worked with a series of architects employed by the Commission who were responsible for the detailed design work and, due to the lack of records, it is difficult the extent of his involvement, particulalry with the smaller sites.  However, his influence is clear throughout.  Many of the larger cemeteries feature his Stone of Remembrance as well as shelter buildings that hark back to the work that he did in he design of client’s gardens, notably Hestercombe and Heywood House.  Integral to all is the planting clearly inspired by his close collaborator Gertrude Jekyll.  

 

Locations: See www.cwgc.org