Kirton War Memorial

The Green, High Street, Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 1EE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, by G Maile and Sons of London and unveiled on 12 November 1922, with further names added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439370
Date first listed:: 04-Nov-2016
List Entry Name:: Kirton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The Green, High Street, Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 1EE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1439370
Date first listed:: 04-Nov-2016
List Entry Name:: Kirton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The Green, High Street, Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 1EE

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:: The Green, High Street, Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 1EE

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

County:: Lincolnshire
District:: Boston (District Authority)
Parish:: Kirton
National Grid Reference:: TF3062338557

Summary

First World War memorial, by G Maile and Sons of London and unveiled on 12 November 1922, with further names added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Kirton War Memorial 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 community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple yet dignified obelisk in Cornish granite; * Group value: with the Church of St Peter and St Paul (Grade I), a K6 Telephone Kiosk and The Peacocks (both 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 Kirton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Kirton War Memorial was built by G Maile and Sons at a cost of £530, to commemorate the 68 local servicemen who fell in the First World War. G Maile and Sons were masons, sculptors and church furnishers (especially stained glass), based in Euston Road, London. They were responsible for a number of war memorials across the country, a number of which are listed including Wooburn, Fowlmere and Pirton War Memorial (all Grade II).

The dedication ceremony was held on 12 November 1922 and it was unveiled by Sir Archibald Weigall who was Governor of South Australia 1920-1922 and also unveiled many war memorials there. The names of the fallen from the Second World War were added at a later date.

The memorial is sited in a triangular paved area surrounded by the original railings on a low wall with an ornate iron entrance gate located at one corner. Three new gates were added in 1996.

In 2009 16 names were added to the war memorial on new granite blocks with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

MATERIALS: rough-hewn Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located on The Green on the High Street in the centre of Kirton. It consists of an obelisk on a square plinth and seven-stepped base.

The inscriptions are incised into polished plaques on the faces of the plinth and painted black and gold. The inscription on the front face reads: IN/ GRATEFUL/ AND GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF KIRTON/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WARS/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945. The other faces are inscribed with the names. One of the faces is additionally inscribed: THEIR NAMES/ LIVE/ FOR EVER.

Sources

Books and journals
Credland, M, The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire, (2014)
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/119834
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/2770
War Memorials Trust, accessed 21 August 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=714

Legal

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