Barnetby Boys Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Barnetby Boys Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Barnabas, 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-proportioned and dignified Celtic cross.

History

Barnetby le Wold War Memorial, known as the Barnetby Boys Memorial, was unveiled on 5 December 1920 to commemorate the 30 local servicemen who died in the First World War. It is attributed to the local architect Wilfrid Bond (1870-1935), who also designed the adjacent St Barnabas’ church (1926-7). The memorial was paid for by public subscription. The unveiling, by Mr William Wood Lowish of Manor House, was carried out at a ceremony led by local clergy and attended by a large gathering. The original inscription did not include the names of the fallen; these were added later along with the names of those 11 who died in the Second World War.

Details

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located in the south-east corner of the grounds of St Barnabas’ Church, and stands within a small enclosure facing the road. The memorial is made of grey granite and takes the form of a Celtic cross. It stands on a square, single-stepped base with chamfered corners, which is painted white. Above this rises a square, three-stage and tapering plinth which bears the inscriptions in black lettering. The simple and undecorated Celtic cross rises above this.

The plinth is inscribed on three sides. The original inscription is on the south-eastern face of the middle stage of the plinth, facing the road and reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE BARNETBY BOYS/ WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES/ THAT WE MAY LIVE IN FREEDOM AND IN PEACE/ ALSO AS A THANKSGIVING FOR THE SAFE RETURN/ OF THE OTHERS WHO SERVED/ IN THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS”.

On the lower stage of the plinth below are inscribed the names of those who died in the Second World War with the dates 1939 – 1945 inscribed. The names of those who died in the First World War, with rank and regiment, are inscribed on the south-west and north-east faces of the central stage of the plinth below the inscription KILLED IN ACTION. The distinction is made between those who were killed and those who died of wounds.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the memorial is enclosed by iron railings on a low white-painted kerb, with a gate to the front. In front of the memorial there are two white painted planters, and a white stone vase dedicated by the Barnetby British Legion set at the foot of the memorial’s base. These features are not of special interest.

Sources

Books and journals
Credland, M, The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire, (2014), 17, 46

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 18/03/2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/51699
War Memorials Online, accessed 18/03/2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/207550

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.

Print the official list entry