Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1923.
Reasons for Designation
Stanley War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of St Andrew’s Church, 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 First World War;
* Architectural interest: an elegant memorial cross ornamented with carved interlace, in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with the Church of St Andrew (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. 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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Stanley 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 Andrew (Grade II). The granite monument, c5m tall, takes the form of a Celtic cross that rises from a plinth, square on plan. The plinth stands on a four-stepped base. The front face of the cross head is ornamented with interlace patterns carved in relief.
End of official list entry
