Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial, which is situated at the junction of Scalegill Road and Church 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 this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as an elegant and well-executed granite cross with relief-carved decorative details.

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

Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial was made by Thomas Preston and located on land given by Mrs Thomas Postlethwaite of The Hollins. It was unveiled on 23 October 1921 by Mr H A Bonney, BA, Headmaster of Moor Row Primary School. The memorial commemorates 42 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 12 men who fell in the Second World War. The Second World War names were unveiled and dedicated by Regimental QMS J K Thompson, RAMC, on 14 November 1948.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: Aberdeen granite.

DESCRIPTION: Moor Row and Scalegill War Memorial is located at the junction of Scalegill Road and Church Street, Moor Row, Cumbria. It is prominently situated in the heart of the village. It comprises an elaborate Aberdeen granite Celtic cross with a wreath carved in relief to the front shaft, on an elaborate foot incorporating carved pediments and shields surmounting a square plinth with two-stepped base; the lower step incorporating relief-carved crossed rifles to the front face.

A Second World War inclined tablet is set at the left side foot. The plinth, base, and additional Second World War tablet bear the inscriptions in leaded lettering.

The inscription on the plinth is in leaded lettering and reads MOOR ROW AND SCALEGILL MEMORIAL/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN EVER GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ MEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR/ TRUTH AND RIGHT IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD,/ AS WE THAT ARE LEFT GROW OLD:/ AGE SHALL NOT WEARY THEM,/ NOR THE YEARS CONDEMN./ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING, WE WILL/ REMEMBER THEM. The names are carved on the sides of the plinth.

The upper step reads UNVEILED BY H. BONNEY B.A./ OCT. 23RD 1921.

The inclined tablet carries the inscription IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THOSE WHO MADE THE/ SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ THEY LIVE FOREVER/ UNVEILED BY/ R.Q.M.S J.K THOMPSON R.A.M.C/ NOV. 14TH 1948.

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3909
War Memorials Online, accessed 2 April 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/169148/

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