War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's Churchyard

War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's churchyard

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Overview

War memorial lychgate, 1920, designed by architect J H Martindale and constructed by A Grisenthwaite.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1412139
Date first listed:
15-Feb-2013
List Entry Name:
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's Churchyard
Statutory Address:
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's churchyard
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's Churchyard, Skelton
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1412139
Date first listed:
15-Feb-2013
List Entry Name:
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's Churchyard
Statutory Address 1:
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's churchyard

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's churchyard

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Westmorland and Furness (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Skelton
National Grid Reference:
NY4391835414

Summary

War memorial lychgate, 1920, designed by architect J H Martindale and constructed by A Grisenthwaite.

Reasons for Designation

This First World war memorial lychgate unveiled in 1920, with Second World War additions, is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: it is a poignant reminder of the impact of tragic world events upon an individual community and, thus has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context;
* Design: designed by a known local architect J. H Martindale of Carlisle, this is a well-executed and attractive memorial.

History

This First World War memorial lychgate was unveiled on the 19th September 1920, by members of the local clergy and accompanying dignitaries.

Details

War memorial lychgate, 1920, designed by architect J H Martindale and constructed by A Grisenthwaite.

MATERIALS: red sandstone and wood; roof of red sandstone slates.

DESCRIPTION: this First World War memorial lychgate with Second World War additions is situated at the end of the footpath leading to the Church of St Michael, Skelton. Two U-shaped sandstone gateposts, each containing a timber seat supported on sandstone corbels, support the pitched roof superstructure. The names of the nine Fallen are carved onto the inside of the north gatepost above the seat. The gates are of light oak with elaborate metal strap hinges and fastenings. Above is the timber superstructure in dark oak which supports the pitched roof. The superstructure displays decorative carvings and dedications, that seen on approaching the lychgate reads, "AND THE 1939 -1945 WAR / THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918"/. That seen on leaving the lychgate reads, "SONS OF THIS PLACE, LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID / THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD / THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP / A RICHER HARVEST, ERE YOU FALL ALSEEP".

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 2 February 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 2 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3121
War Memorials Online, accessed 2 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/119500

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of War Memorial Lychgate, St Michael's Churchyard

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 29-Jun-2026 at 05:00:21.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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