At a meeting on the 18th of March, the Memorial Garden group viewed several proposals for the memorial garden before settling on a design by Fermín Beltrán of Fife Architects, who are located beside the site of the garden. The group’s thanks goes to all those who submitted designs.
As show from the photos opposite the chosen design composes of three pink granite pillars rising like a wave with two topped with partial sails similar to those found on the three boats that were lost in the 1875 disaster. The third pillar is left empty to poignantly symbolise the loss of the three vessels. The front of each pillar will be engraved with the names of the 21 fishermen lost in the disaster while the rear will be engraved with details of the families they left behind.
The garden will also include a bench shaped to mimic the waves of the sea, planters of seaside flowers and plants, and a new
noticeboard that will be used to advertise future community events. The design is completed with fan cobblestone paving symbolising the waves breaking on the shore.
Fundraising
The overall cost of the garden is estimated to be around £30,000. At present, the group has £3,000 in reserves as well as pending grant applications to the value of £25,000. This will mean that it is up to the community to raise the remaining £2,000 if we want to see the Memorial Garden completed.
A sub-group are beginning to put together a programme of events over the summer to raise the remaining £2,000 as well as to build community engagement in the project. If you have an idea for fundraising or would like to help either organise or steward an event, please contact [email protected] for more details.
A New Chairman
For the last month, Councillor Sean Dillon has been chairing the group while chairman, Rev. Hugh Wallace, has been out of the country.
With Hugh safely returned, he has decided to pass the baton on to Sean on a permanent basis.
Paying tribute to Hugh, Sean said “It is a great honour to be taking on this project as we reach a critical stage in its development. I would like to thank Hugh for his hard work and dedication which have brought us to this point.
I am pleased that Hugh will continue to serve as a member of the group and continue to be a source of knowledge for all of us going forward.”
Keeping in Touch
While the group will continue to publish newsletters when we have announcements, if you would like to stay up-to-date with the latest news, you can now visit our Facebook Page, “St Monans 1875 Memorial Garden”, at www.facebook.com/StMonans1875.
You can also join our mailing list using the QR code below or by visiting https://forms.gle/ ZoT5ykAi7hcGKc5X7:The disaster of November 1875 saw three St Monans fishing Fifies – The Quest, The Beautiful Star, and The Thane – caught in a severe storm while returning home. All 21 crew members, seven from each vessel, perished. The loss was a profound blow to the close-knit community, leaving 11 women widowed and 43 children fatherless. The village was devastated, and the tragedy also touched the community of King's Lynn, Norfolk, where eight of the recovered fishermen were laid to rest with great dignity and local support was provided to the bereaved families.
The Memorial Garden, to be located at the prominent corner of East Street and Station Road in St Monans, will provide a place of reflection and remembrance. The design, by Fermin Beltran Dos Santos a local Architect, will feature vessel-shaped pink granite memorial pedestals, one for each boat, engraved with the names of the fishermen lost. The space will also include a new community planter, seating bench, and a community notice board, set within an area of locally sourced whinstone pavers and cobblestones.
A spokesperson for the St Monans Memorial Garden Committee, Hugh Wallace, stated, "This Memorial Garden will be a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our fishermen, both in the 1875 tragedy and throughout our village's rich maritime history. It will be a place for quiet contemplation, education, and a tribute to the enduring spirit of our fishing community. We envision it as a space that not only honours the past but also recognises the daily courage of those who continue to work at sea."The project includes plans for a memorial sculpture, further enhancing the commemorative aspect of the garden. Detailed proposals for the sculpture and external design elements have been carefully considered to create a fitting and respectful memorial.
The estimated cost for the Memorial Garden project is £30,000. The Committee is launching a series of fundraising initiatives to bring these plans to fruition. Community members and well-wishers can contribute through a dedicated Crowdfunder page: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/st-monans-1875-memorial-garden.
Donations can also be made directly to a special "Memorial Garden" account held by St Monans Community Council:
•Sort Code: 83-24-24
•Account: 00681159
•Reference: MG
An official Service and Opening Ceremony for the Memorial Garden is planned for November 2025, coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the tragedy. During this event, a plaque bearing the names of the 21 fishermen will be formally unveiled. The Committee hopes to welcome representatives from the local community, the King's Lynn community, and the wider fishing fraternity to mark this important occasion.
The St Monans Memorial Garden Committee is dedicated to creating a beautiful and meaningful space that will stand as a testament to the village's heritage and the enduring bravery of its fishing community. Regular t of the Project its estimated at £30,000.
Fundraising opportunities will be available, and we encourage and appreciate your support.
Crowd-funding page has been set up .crowdfunder.co.uk/p/st-monans-1875-memorial-garden
