Witherslack War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Paul, Church Road, Witherslack, Cumbria, LA11 6RS

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457163
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2018
List Entry Name:: Witherslack War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Paul, Church Road, Witherslack, Cumbria, LA11 6RS

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457163
Date first listed:: 26-Oct-2018
List Entry Name:: Witherslack War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Paul, Church Road, Witherslack, Cumbria, LA11 6RS

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:: Churchyard of the Church of St Paul, Church Road, Witherslack, Cumbria, LA11 6RS

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

District:: Westmorland and Furness (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Witherslack, Meathop and Ulpha
National Park:: LAKE DISTRICT
National Grid Reference:: SD4315384187

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Witherslack War Memorial, which is situated in St Paul’s 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 this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a simple but well-executed granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Paul, Grade II-listed Sundial in the churchyard and the Grade II-listed Gatepiers and Overthrow to South of Church.

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 Witherslack as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Witherslack War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The faculty was granted in May 1920 and the memorial was unveiled on 17 April 1921. The memorial commemorates nine local servicemen who fell in the First World War and nine men who fell in the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Witherslack War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Paul, Church Road, Witherslack, Cumbria. It is prominently situated by the church tower. It comprises a 3.6m tall wheel-head granite cross on a tapering, four-sided plinth with two-stepped square base with rough-hewn edges. The plinth bears the inscriptions in leaded lettering.

The inscription is in leaded lettering and reads IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE/ ECCLUS XLIV 14// 1939 –1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4160
War Memorials Online, accessed 2 April 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/176328/

Legal

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