Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
High Etherley War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Cuthbert, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant obelisk in the Classical style;
* Group value: with the Church of St Cuthbert (Grade II-listed).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at High Etherley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Cuthbert (Grade II-listed), to the west of the church tower. It takes the form of a tall granite obelisk, square on plan, that rises from the pedimented top of a pedestal. The pedestal stands on two sandstone steps. The monument is enclosed by a low square kerb.
End of official list entry
