Old Leake War Memorial

The churchyard, Church of St Mary, Church Road, Old Leake, Boston, PE22 9NJ

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

Overview

First World War memorial designed by Temple Lushington Moore (1856-1920), unveiled 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:: 1450434
Date first listed:: 19-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Old Leake War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, Church of St Mary, Church Road, Old Leake, Boston, PE22 9NJ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1450434
Date first listed:: 19-Oct-2017
List Entry Name:: Old Leake War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, Church of St Mary, Church Road, Old Leake, Boston, PE22 9NJ

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 churchyard, Church of St Mary, Church Road, Old Leake, Boston, PE22 9NJ

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

County:: Lincolnshire
District:: Boston (District Authority)
Parish:: Old Leake
National Grid Reference:: TF4079150266

Summary

First World War memorial designed by Temple Lushington Moore (1856-1920), unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Old Leake War Memorial, which stands in the 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-proportioned Calvary cross in Clipsham stone, designed by noted architect Temple Lushington Moore (1856-1920).

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade I) and the lychgate (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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Old Leake as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled on 18 April 1920 to commemorate 50 men of the parish who had died in the First World War. It was designed by Mr Temple Lushington Moore of London, and built by the masons Messrs Nefield and Loxley of Oxford at a cost of £250-£350. It was unveiled and dedicated by Reverend JBS Simpson following a church service. Following the Second World War a further inscription was added.

Temple Lushington Moore (1856-1920) is known as one of Britain’s foremost church architects of the late-C19 and early-C20. In 1875 he was articled to George Gilbert Scott (Junior) and his career was closely associated with Scott’s practice. As well as many secular commissions Moore designed some 40 churches, establishing him as a leading figure in ecclesiastical architecture: he is important for his development of the Gothic revival, made notable by careful planning and attention to proportion. He was responsible for First World War memorials at Sledmere (the Eleanor Cross, Grade I), Coxwold (Grade II) and Skirbeck Quarter (Grade II).

Details

The war memorial stands immediately to the south-east of the Church of St Mary (Grade I). It is a 4.6m high Calvary Cross built in Clipsham stone, with a two-stepped octagonal base from which rises a four-sided pedestal. The cross-shaft is octagonal in section but with a square foot. The top of the cross, rising from a simple moulded collar, is a hooded crucifix with the figure of Christ carved on the eastern face of the memorial.

The pedestal is inscribed on all sides with an upper dedicatory line carved in relief and the commemorated names below in incised lettering. On the eastern face the inscription reads PRO PATRIA. On the southern face the inscription is R.I.P. On the western face the inscription is MEMORIAM, with on the northern face 1914-1918.

The north-facing riser of the upper step of the base is inscribed 1939 – 1945, with the Second World War names inscribed on the remaining faces.

Sources

Books and journals
Credland, M, The First World War Memorials of Lincolnshire, (2014), 19, 145
Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 January 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20484

Legal

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