Askham Bryan War Memorial
St Nicholas' Churchyard, Askham Bryan, York
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1454748
- Date first listed:
- 22-Mar-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Askham Bryan War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- St Nicholas' Churchyard, Askham Bryan, York
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1454748
- Date first listed:
- 22-Mar-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Askham Bryan War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- St Nicholas' Churchyard, Askham Bryan, York
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:
- St Nicholas' Churchyard, Askham Bryan, York
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- York (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Askham Bryan
- National Grid Reference:
- SE5536448450
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled on 29 August 1919.
Reasons for Designation
Askham Bryan War Memorial, which is situated in St Nicholas’ 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 First World War.
Architectural interest:
* an elegant Latin cross memorial demonstrating fine craftsmanship in the relief carved Celtic knot work design to the cross and shaft.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Nicholas (Grade I-listed).
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 Askham Bryan as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on 29 August 1919 and the ceremony was attended by Bishop Suffragan of Beverley. It cost just over £114.
Details
First World War memorial, 1919.
DESCRIPTION: Askham Bryan war memorial is located in the parish churchyard to the south-west of the Church of St Nicholas (Grade I-listed) and adjacent to the main path to the church.
It is of Portland stone, and takes the form of a tall Latin cross with moulded foot, rising from a square plinth, which surmounts a single-step, square base. The south-west face of the cross-head and shaft are decorated with an ornate Celtic knot work design carved in relief. The cross-head has cusped projections at the right-angles between the cross-arms, which are also decorated with the knot work design. To the centre of the cross-head is a carved symbol of a cross within a circle. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering, painted black.
The principal inscription is to the north-west face and reads, TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ WHO GIVETH US THE VICTORY/ AND IN EVER THANKFUL/ MEMORY OF ALL IN THIS/ PARISH WHO SERVED/ THEIR COUNTRY/ ESPECIALLY THOSE HERE/ RECORDED WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The eight names of those from the parish who died in the First World War are recorded on the south-west face, arranged by regiment and include their rank and age. A further inscription is written on the south-east face, which reads “GREATER LOVE HATH/ NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN/ LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS”.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 13 February 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/30880
War Memorials Online, accessed 13 February 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/227624
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 26-Jun-2026 at 03:00:13.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.