Grimston War Memorial Cross
c85m west of St John's Church, Main Street, Grimston, Leicestershire, LE14 3BZ
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1455454
- Date first listed:
- 27-Apr-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Grimston War Memorial Cross
- Statutory Address:
- c85m west of St John's Church, Main Street, Grimston, Leicestershire, LE14 3BZ
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1455454
- Date first listed:
- 27-Apr-2018
- List Entry Name:
- Grimston War Memorial Cross
- Statutory Address 1:
- c85m west of St John's Church, Main Street, Grimston, Leicestershire, LE14 3BZ
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:
- c85m west of St John's Church, Main Street, Grimston, Leicestershire, LE14 3BZ
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Leicestershire
- District:
- Melton (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Grimston
- National Grid Reference:
- SK6846321861
Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920.
Reasons for Designation
Grimston War Memorial, which stands on Main Street, 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 unusual Portland stone war memorial cross which, having not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*) and other nearby structures listed at 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 Grimston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by eight members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by the artist son of Mr Francis W Reckett (owner of the local estate). The memorial cross was one part of the scheme that also included erecting two identical brass plaques in the Parish Church and Wesleyan Church. The three memorials were dedicated during the same ceremony, led by Reverend Elgar Hicks. The cost of the whole scheme was met by public subscription. The memorial cross was unveiled on 7 April 1920 by Captain Reckitt, a nephew of Mr Francis Reckett.
Details
The war memorial stands in a memorial enclosure on the south side of Main Street, approximately 85m to the west of the Church of St John the Baptist (Grade II*-listed). Numerous Grade II-listed buildings stand in the vicinity. It comprises an approximately 2m tall Portland stone cross. The wheel-head cross with a short cross shaft stands on a pedestal. The stem of the pedestal, octagonal in section, supports a small tapering block, square on plan, from which rises the cross. The pedestal stands on a two-stepped base.
The principal dedicatory inscription on a plate attached to the front face of the central block reads GRIMSTON WAR MEMORIAL/ (8 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 March 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37792
Leicestershire War Memorials, accessed 9 March 2018 from http://www.leicestershirewarmemorials.co.uk/war/memorials/view/494
Other
‘Grimston’s War Memorial: Unveiling Ceremony’, The Melton Mowbray Times, 16 April 1920, p3.
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 18-Jul-2026 at 14:09:38.
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.