Thursday, June 30th. Men digging foundation …., a motor load of red bricks came today.
Friday, July 1st. The men putting in concrete, a load of stone came this morning. Mr F. Knight looking on, no signs of Round House foundation. Nearing clay.
Tuesday, July 5th. Five men at work finished the concrete work, foundation, carting clay away, which was dug out. Very warm weather.
A week’s rest for concrete to set.
Tuesday, July 12th, also Monday, July 11th. Putting in more concrete with some planks around, octagonal fashion about a foot above the level of the Green, exceedingly hot weather, about 80 degrees in my Music Room.
Saturday, August 6th. About 40 large stones arrived in base of ‘Cross’.
Monday, August 8th. Put 1st course of stone on edgeways, filled it with concrete, block of 4 bricks.
Tuesday, August 9th, 1921. Laid second course of stone, the flat step all round.
Wednesday, August 10th. Put third course of stone, this edgeways, filled with more concrete.
Thursday, August 11th. The fourth course put on this day, that is the second step.
Our Church Choir boys, the Rector, Pashler, Ginns, and myself went to Cambridge , annual outing on this day by charabanc, Robinsons. Service at King’s College. Seven of us present.
Monday, August 15th. The fourth course (or 2nd step) finished off today and concrete put in centre to level it up.
Tuesday, August 16th. A lovely morning. Four men at work at Cross. The fifth course put on this morning in thick solid stone (Weldon). Morris showed me the PLAN and drawing this morning. I think it will look well. Several men are standing by the iron rail round the top of Green, children playing with bricks and sand. The Wellingboro’ bus at the ‘Wheat Sheaf Inn’.
The Green is very untidy and bare at present, not much grass. I am writing this in house, 22 Church St. in my Music Room, facing south.
Wednesday, August 17th. The 6th course (of thick stone) added today. I spent a day at the Archdeacon’s Library, Peterborough Cathedral this day.
Thursday, August 18th. The 7th course (thick stone) and the 8th course (thin stone) laid this day, and the centre filled up with more rows of brick. Mr Morris says to keep the monument from swaying. A magnificent day today, 75 degrees of heat in my Music Room.
Friday August 19. Scroxton brought scaffold poles for Morris for the scaffolding of the Memorial. At present it looks like a stout stone “pulpit” with steps, in the interior of this are rows of brick. I believe the poles arrived on Thursday as they were put up on Friday. A Council Meeting this week when there was a discussion about the “Green” & Memorial. Where are the stallholders to go, if not allowed on the green? Where are the buses to stand, at present along by “Wheat Sheaf Inn” and dangerous for other vehicles to pass. The only place I can see is the garden just opposite the Green, the property of Mr Sartoris, rented by John Scott, the brook covered over & the garden levelled down & prepared could make a capital small Market Place. They ought to have purchased the site of Cave’s fire for a Market.
Monday August 22. Motor load of stone came, heavy ones, the jambs, 8 of them for the octagonal courses, they have leaves carved up in centre of them. There was another load came on Tuesday, & the 9th course a thin one just under the upright jambs & 3 of the uprights put in position, those facing the Church on Tuesday, August 23.
Wednesday August 24. 5 other jambs set up these facing Skinners Hill.
Thursday August 25. The course with the following inscription upon it: “To keep in mind those from this town who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1919”.
Friday August 26. There is also another course above this put on.
Saturday August 27 1921. There is a Stall for bacon, towels, sweets etc on the Green,
Monday August 29. Two men finishing off the course laid just above “inscription”.
Tuesday August 30. A course laid with ledge or step for the figures in the recesses. The weather is very beautiful all the time, it has been a remarkable summer. One of the large fluted or recessed stones to hold a figure is up today.
Wednesday August 31. Another large stone is up this morning to hold figures. Lovely bright day.
Thursday September 1. Put on part of the course which caps, or finishes the three recesses. More stone came.
Friday September 2. Finished the course just mentioned. The “Panels” are still showing the brick.
Monday September 5. The course of stone projecting over the Recesses was laid. Tuesday September 6. Finished off the latter course & large stone hauled up after 2nd course above recesses. This last course tapers inwards, narrows. Still very fine warm weather.
Monday September 12. Mr Gotch of Kettering, who is the Architect of Memorial, went round the Parish Church opposite, by the wish of Mr Fred Knight (the principal man over this Memorial). I showed them round the Church. Mr Gotch was very pleased.
Tuesday September 13. The thick courses above projecting stones finished & the next course stones with carving of fruit or flowers now being laid.
Wednesday September 14. Five or 6 men busy putting up more scaffolding & carving the top leaf of the row of leaves, others finishing off the joints of stone.
Thursday September 15. Still touching up. I went up top today. J.E.S.
Friday, September 16th. Still touching up the stone.
Saturday, September 17th. Another course laid on this day above the projecting, or to the course above the carved flowers and fruit, it is beginning to draw in now to be unveiled on Sunday, September 25th, Rushden Feast Sunday. (Parchment and coins put in).
Monday, September 19th.
Tuesday, September 20th. The top stones but one were put on. The carvers still at the decorations.
Wednesday, September 21st, 1921. the ‘Finial’ or apex stone was finished this evening at 6.15. the men finished it off and washed it down. Pot stall on the green and scores of people buying and watching the proceedings, it is a lovely evening. I have been to Northampton Library today, went at 9.30, back home at 4.40. Green and Miss Wilkins from the ‘Waggon and Horses Inn’ went up.
Thursday, September 22nd. The carved figure on the north side put up at 10.15. The one on south side 10.30 and the one facing the Church at 10.45. The Architect was adjusting the figures, men scraping and filing the stone on the top. The Monument looks to me like 3 pulpits on top of each other, with a candle extinguished to complete it.
Friday, September 23rd. A man boring a hole in (East) figures back to fasten it I suppose. Another man is holding the figures. Lots of people looking on. Fine morning.
Saturday, September 24th. Finished off. Scaffolding down, swept the Green. Memorial from designs of Gotch & Sanders of Kettering. Work (stone) by Morris of Kettering. Statues by Allan G. Wyen, London, other carving by Reynolds, Northampton.
Sunday, September 25th, Feast. Unveiled. Magnificent. Warm, bright day. 3 to 4.
