Bewcastle War Memorial

St Cuthbert's Churchyard, High Grains, Bewcastle, Cumbria

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

Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled on 7 September 1919, 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:: 1449782
Date first listed:: 12-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Bewcastle War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Cuthbert's Churchyard, High Grains, Bewcastle, Cumbria

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1449782
Date first listed:: 12-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Bewcastle War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Cuthbert's Churchyard, High Grains, Bewcastle, Cumbria

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:: St Cuthbert's Churchyard, High Grains, Bewcastle, Cumbria

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

District:: Cumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Bewcastle
National Grid Reference:: NY5652874563

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 7 September 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Bewcastle War Memorial, which is situated in St Cuthbert’s churchyard, 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:

* A well-executed obelisk memorial.

Group value:

* With the Grade II*-listed Church of St Cuthbert, the Grade II-listed former rectory known as Banna, and the Bewcastle Roman fort scheduled monument.

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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Bewcastle as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 19 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was unveiled on 7 September 1919, and was made by Messrs G Maile and Son Ltd of Euston Road, London. Maile and Son were sculptors and church furnishers who were also responsible for building many war memorials across the country, a number of which are listed.

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the three fallen of that conflict.

Details

First World War memorial, 1919, with later additions for the Second World War.

DESCRIPTION: Bewcastle War Memorial is located on an area of hard-standing, to the west of the entrance to the Grade II*-listed Church of St Cuthbert, within the churchyard. It is also in close proximity to the Grade II-listed former rectory known as Banna, and within the area of Bewcastle Roman fort scheduled monument.

The memorial is of granite and takes the form of an obelisk rising from a chamfered square base. This surmounts a square plinth with moulded cornice and a tapering foot, upon a single-step base. The inscriptions and names are in lead lettering, painted black.

The principal inscription is to the east face and reads IN HONOUR/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ SOLDIERS/ FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN/ THE GREAT WARS/ 1914 – 1918/ 1939 – 1945. Above the inscription is the symbol of a Latin cross, also in lead. The 19 names of those who died during the First World War are on the remaining faces of the plinth and include the regiment in which they served. The three names relating to the Second World War are beneath the principal inscription, affixed to the plinth foot.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 09 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/118432
War Memorials Register, accessed 09 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4260

Legal

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