Christleton War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St James, Pepper Street, Christleton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 7AG

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Overview

First World War memorial unveiled on 25 April 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438570
Date first listed:: 14-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Christleton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St James, Pepper Street, Christleton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 7AG

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438570
Date first listed:: 14-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Christleton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St James, Pepper Street, Christleton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 7AG

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

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

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:: Churchyard of the Church of St James, Pepper Street, Christleton, Chester, Cheshire, CH3 7AG

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

District:: Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Christleton
National Grid Reference:: SJ4409165680

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.

Sources

Websites
Christleton Magazine Nov 2006, accessed 9 May 2016 from http://www.christleton.org.uk/site/magazine/Nov06Christleton.pdf
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253797
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9863
Other
Cheshire Observer, Saturday 1st March 1919
Cheshire Record Office: Faculty for the reconstruction of the war memorial and for new approach hitherto, Diocese of Chester, 29 April 1929
Christleton Parish Magazine, 1919 and 1920

Legal

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