Cleator Moor War Memorial

Church of St John the Evangelist, Leconsfield Street, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5QA

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Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled on 16 April 1922, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454239
Date first listed:: 15-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Cleator Moor War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church of St John the Evangelist, Leconsfield Street, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5QA

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454239
Date first listed:: 15-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Cleator Moor War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Church of St John the Evangelist, Leconsfield Street, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5QA

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:: Church of St John the Evangelist, Leconsfield Street, Cleator Moor, Cumbria, CA25 5QA

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

District:: Cumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Cleator Moor
National Grid Reference:: NY0149815331

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled on 16 April 1922, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Cleator Moor 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:

* in the form of a pink granite Celtic cross on a tall, tapering plinth.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed church in whose grounds it stands.

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 in the grounds of the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Although Cleator Moor War Memorial is situated within the churchyard of St John the Evangelist the war memorial committee had representatives from all the nonconformist churches in the town. The memorial was unveiled by Colonel D J Mason DSO on 16 April 1922. The memorial commemorates 85 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and those (none named) who fell in the Second World War.

Details

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

MATERIALS: pink granite

DESCRIPTION: Cleator Moor War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Grade II-listed Church of St John the Evangelist. It is prominently situated in front of the east end of the church, where it faces the roadside beyond. It comprises a Celtic cross with carved knot work to the head on a tapering shaft, with a tapering four-sided plinth and single-stepped base. At the foot has been placed a small tablet dedicated to the Second World War.

The lower shaft and plinth bear the inscriptions in leaded lettering: East Face FOR/ GOD – KING/ AND/ COUNTRY/ 1914 -1918/ (NAMES)/ West Face (NAMES)/North Face (NAMES)/South Face (NAMES).

A tablet in front of East Face reads: IN GRACIOUS MEMORY OF/ OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ 1939-1945.

The whole is within a surrounding low kerb wall with eight square posts.

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register , accessed 25 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3950
War Memorials Online , accessed 25 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/169469

Legal

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