Summary
First World War memorial unveiled on 25 April 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Christleton War Memorial, unveiled on 25 April 1920, 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 and ornate lantern memorial enriched with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St James (Grade II*), churchyard lych gate (Grade II), sundial (Grade II) and memorial shelter on the village green opposite (Grade II).
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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Christleton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who had served in the First World War.
The memorial was funded by public subscription which amounted to £500. The unveiling of the memorial occurred 14 months following the initial public meeting to discuss action about a war memorial in February 1919. The memorial was originally intended to be a wayside Calvary, positioned on the village green, in the place of, or in front of, the pump house. However, difficulties in obtaining the land prevented this, and in September 1919 it was thought that the scheme for a memorial may have been abandoned altogether.
Following some debate, the memorial was redesigned and instead positioned in the churchyard for greater protection and security. The dedication ceremony took place on 25 April 1920. In 1929, the war memorial was partially destroyed in a gale after which it was reconstructed, and the gateway and steps were added. The gates to the memorial were later replaced in 2006.
Details
MATERIALS: sandstone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands at approximately 6m tall and is an intricately detailed, gabled lantern, featuring religious iconography including a Cross, Christogram and gothic arches, in addition to Tudor roses and acanthus leaves. The lantern is positioned at the top of an octagonal, chamfered and tapering shaft, set upon an octagonal plinth. Recessed panels on each side of the plinth bear the dedications and names of the fallen incised into the sandstone.
The inscription to the south facing side of the plinth reads IN MEMORY OF/ SOLDIERS OF/ CHRISTLETON/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR/ COUNTRY/ 1914 – 1918. A second inscription to the north facing side of the plinth reads THIS STONE/ IS ERECTED/ IN HONOUR/ OF THEIR/ SACRIFICE/ AND AS A/ THANKSGIVING/ FOR THOSE WHO/ RETURNED. There are 36 names detailing rank and regiment inscribed on the remaining six sides of the plinth, which stands upon a three-stepped octagonal base, with stone surround.
Upon the south facing side of the memorial base, a bronze plaque lists the names of 19 further men who had served in the Second World War, beneath the dates 1939 – 1945.
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 November 2017.
