Cleator War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1922, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Cleator War Memorial erected in 1922, 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 good quality design in the form of a carved, draped urn in granite, surmounting a three-tier pedestal.

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 near the junction of Main Street and Cleator Gate, Cleator Moor as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Cleator war memorial commemorates 20 (originally 19) servicemen from Cleator and Trumpet Terrace who fell in the First World War. It was made by Thomas Preston (mason) and located on land donated by Mr S L Lindow Burns of Greenlands, Holmrook. The memorial cost £275 and took until 1928 to fund. The memorial was unveiled by Major H J Bewlay of Whitehaven on 9 July 1922. The names of 10 men who fell in the Second World War were added at a later date.

In 2014 the steps and the cracked concrete surrounding the memorial were removed and a new concrete surface and steps laid.

Details

First World War memorial, 1922, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: grey granite from Creetown, Galloway; walls are Cumberland red sandstone; iron gate and railings

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is located in a roadside enclosure in Main Street, Cleator, Cumbria. It is prominently situated near to the junction with Cleator Gate. It comprises a silver grey granite draped urn with floral swag to the north face. This surmounts a tall, three-tier, pedestal with floral rosettes to each face of the third tier with egg and dart moulding to the cornice below. The plinth has stone plaques on two faces containing the inscription and sits on a moulded foot and three-tiered base below. The inscription is in leaded lettering and continues on the foot and base.

The north side of the pedestal caries the principal inscription and reads: ERECTED/ IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ THE CLEATOR AND T TERRACE MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ KILLED/15 NAMES/ DIED ON SERVICE/5 NAMES/ THEIR SPIRIT LIVETH EVERMORE.

The Second World War inscription is on the west face and reads: 1939-1945/10 NAMES.

The memorial is on a concrete foundation that is raised, forming another step. It stands within a Cumberland red sandstone low-walled enclosure with castellated coping and decorative iron railings and gate to the roadside.

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 23 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3946
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/169507

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