Roger de Pont l’Évêque became the Archbishop of York in 1154. He is credited with rebuilding York Minster after it was ravaged by fire. This arcade was constructed in the late 12th century as part of his Archbishop’s Palace. In 1987, these ruins in Dean’s Park were dedicated by Queen Elizabeth as the Kohima War Memorial. It is a tribute to the 1,400 Allied soldiers including members of the 2nd Division who died in the Battle of Kohima. It was the first ground offensive defeat of the Japanese in 1944. This turning point of WWII has been called “Britain’s Greatest Battle.”
