Memorial Title

Beatrice (Tilly) Shilling OBE PhD MSc BSc CEng MIMechE (Lost)

Summary

Derbyshire War Memorials: a description of a lost WW2 war memorial well dressing commemorating Beatrice (Tilly) Shilling OBE PhD MSc BSc CEng MIMechE, at the green, Slacks La, Little Hayfield, Derbyshire.

Images

Click on a thumbnail to see a larger image.

Locations

Last known location:
Green
Slacks La
Little Hayfield
Derbyshire

Nearest postcode:
SK22 2NQ

NGR:
SK 03338 88097
(From online digital mapping.)
(Map opens in new window.)

Location details:
On the south side of Slacks (or Slack) La at its junction with Primrose La, about 140m west of Glossop Rd (A624)

Type

Overall type: Well dressing

Overall condition: Lost

Description:

A temporary well dressing tableau traditionally made from vegetation pressed into clay held in a wooden frame, but today often including pebbles, chippings, beads, fabric etc. The dressing comprised an upright oblong central panel with two narrow side panels, all surmounted by a pediment. The three upright panels formed a multicoloured contiguous display of somewhat abstract form, depicting outlines of Spitfire and Hurricane fighter aircraft above a landscape of chequered fields scattered with coins, mechanical components, RAF roundels and an exhaust manifold with Beatrice Shilling riding her racing motorcycle at the centre. The pediment bore an image of the date formed from the contrails of two fighter aircraft against a blue ground.
The well dressing was displayed from 1st to 8th July 2018 and was subsequently dismantled.

Glossary

Components:

Component	Material	Height	Width	Depth	Condition
Mosaic	Plant material, stones, clay	c2000	c1800	c50	Lost
Frame	Wood	c2000	c1800	c50	Unknown
Dimensions in millimetres ±5mm unless stated otherwise.

Inscription

2018

Conflicts and people named:
Conflict	Second World War (1939-1945)	Totals
Action	Not stated
Number died	0	0
Number served and returned	0	0
Total names	0	0

Administration

Custodian: Not known

Local authorities:
From 1974: Hayfield Parish Council; High Peak Borough Council; Derbyshire County Council.

History and Conservation

Spring 2018: The memorial well dressing was designed, constructed and erected by members of the local community.

1st July, 2018: The memorial was blessed by the local clergy.

1st July, 2018: The memorial was photographed by Glyn Williams

9th July, 2018: The dressing was dismantled and the components salvaged for future use.

References

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Comments

Beatrice Shilling was an eminent electrical and mechanical engineer who had a particularly interesting life and who solved a fuel supply failure which affected aircraft engines by fitting a simple and cheap temporary component, and by then going on to design an injection carburettor which did not suffer from the problem. Her OBE was awarded for her war work.

Well dressing details are available from the welldressing.com site run by Glyn Williams.

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