Freiston War Memorial and railings

St James' Churchyard, Church View, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE22 0LE

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1433501
Date first listed:
22-Mar-2016
List Entry Name:
Freiston War Memorial and railings
Statutory Address:
St James' Churchyard, Church View, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE22 0LE
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1433501
Date first listed:
22-Mar-2016
List Entry Name:
Freiston War Memorial and railings
Statutory Address 1:
St James' Churchyard, Church View, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE22 0LE

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:
St James' Churchyard, Church View, Freiston, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE22 0LE

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

County:
Lincolnshire
District:
Boston (District Authority)
Parish:
Freiston
National Grid Reference:
TF3761343795

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Freiston War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St James, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a well-ornamented memorial cross in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with the Church of St James (Grade I) and the scheduled and Grade II-listed C14 churchyard cross shaft.

History

Freiston War Memorial was unveiled on 13 November 1921. It was built by local memorial masons, Messrs Thomas Kent of Boston for an estimated cost of £400 including the memorial and iron railings. The dedication service was led by Reverend Wilfred Price Twentyman and Major Oliver Cooper TD, 4th Lincolnshire Regiment, with a large gathering of villagers in attendance. The names of those who died in the Second World War were added at a later date.

Details

DESCRIPTION: The war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St James (Grade I) and close to the scheduled and Grade II-listed C14 churchyard cross shaft. It stands behind wrought iron railings in the north-west corner of the churchyard, facing the road. It is built of grey Cumberland granite in the form of a Celtic cross, standing on a concrete platform, with a square, three-stepped base, and a tapered square plinth with double rolled top.

The cross shaft is square on plan, with detailed knotwork and five bosses carved in relief on the front face of the cross head and shaft. The remaining sides are undecorated. The front of the memorial is inscribed in black lettering. The base of the cross shaft has the inscription TO THE GLORY OF/ GOD AND IN/ LASTING MEMORY/ OF THE MEN FROM/ THIS PARISH WHO/ SACRIFICED THEIR/ LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The names of the 13 men who died in the First World War are inscribed on the plinth, with the words “THEY DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE” below. The top step is inscribed 1939 - 1945 with the names of the six men who died in the Second World War on the second step.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial is protected from the road by hooped metal railings with spear and fleur de lis railing heads to the vertical bars and the dog rails. The railing standards have backstays and scrolled finials.

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, 23 January 2017.

Sources

Books and journals
Credland, M, The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire, (2014), 20, 84

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 15/02/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2772
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/149875

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 Freiston War Memorial and railings

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jul-2026 at 17:25:56.

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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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