Skegness War Memorial
Churchyard of Church of St Matthew, Junction of Lumley Avenue with Scarborough Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 2AT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441366
- Date first listed:
- 13-Feb-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Skegness War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of Church of St Matthew, Junction of Lumley Avenue with Scarborough Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 2AT
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1441366
- Date first listed:
- 13-Feb-2017
- List Entry Name:
- Skegness War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of Church of St Matthew, Junction of Lumley Avenue with Scarborough Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 2AT
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of Church of St Matthew, Junction of Lumley Avenue with Scarborough Avenue, Skegness, Lincolnshire, PE25 2AT
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Lincolnshire
- District:
- East Lindsey (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Skegness
- National Grid Reference:
- TF5663863515
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled on 15 November 1923, with further names added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Skegness 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an ornate and striking Latin cross with carved decorative details;
* Group value: with the Church of St Matthew (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 unveiled at Skegness on 15 November 1923 by the Earl of Yarborough, the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and dedicated by Bishop J Taylor Smith CB CVO DD, Chaplain-General to the Forces as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 71 local servicemen who fell during the First World War.
Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the 57 fallen servicemen of that conflict and a further 11 civilians.
Details
Skegness War Memorial is located on the S side of the Church of St Matthew on a small raised circular area. It consists of a stone Latin cross bearing a Sword of Sacrifice on the front face. It is set upon a tapering shaft with moulded base set upon an octagonal plinth. The plinth is set upon a three-stepped octagonal base.
The faces of the plinth bear the names of the fallen in lead lettering and carry carved shield details on alternating faces. The front face carries the inscription 1914 1919/ TO HONOUR/ BEFORE GOD AND MAN,/ ALL WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ IN/ THE GREAT WAR,/ SPECIALLY THE MEN OF/ SKEGNESS,/ WHOSE NAMES ARE/ INSCRIBED/ ON THIS MEMORIAL/ AND/ 1939 1945. Below this on the top step is the additional dedication AND THESE CIVILIANS. The names of the civilians are recorded below this dedication and on two further sides of the step.
Sources
Books and journals
Credland, M, The First World War memorials of Lincolnshire , (2014)
Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 9 Nov 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/168814
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 Nov 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20440
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 09:18:52.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry