Edenhall War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920.

Reasons for Designation

Edenhall War Memorial, which is situated in a roadside enclosure off the B6412 at a junction in the centre of the village, 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 limestone cross;
* as an example of a war memorial that was made of a locally-distinctive material.

Group value:

* with The Old Vicarage, 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 Edenhall as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial commemorates six local servicemen who fell (and a further 28 who served) in the First World War.

Edenhall War Memorial was situated on land in the centre of the village given by Sir Musgrave Brisco. It was made of local limestone from Orton Scar and produced by Alec Parkin, mason. A gap was made in the existing wall for the memorial to stand in a semi-circular area enclosed by an earth embankment at the back (the embankment was replaced by a drystone wall at a later date). At the front were placed dressed stone pillars and a kerb with posts and chain across. The memorial was unveiled on 12 September 1920 by Lady Mabel Howard of Greystoke Castle.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: limestone from Orton Scar.

DESCRIPTION: Edenhall War Memorial is located in a roadside enclosure off the B6412 at a junction in the centre of the village, Edenhall, Cumbria. It is prominently situated at a three-way junction and with open land behind. It comprises a c 3m tall wheel-head cross with Celtic knotwork to the front face, on a tapering shaft with relief-carved 1914 – 1918 dates, set on a tapering, four-sided plinth with a two-stepped square base.

The memorial stands inside a roadside enclosure with capped piers bearing plaques of those who survived. Two cast iron posts linked by chains separate the enclosure from the road. The plinth and base of the cross bears the inscriptions in leaded lettering, alongside carved wreaths. The pier plaques bear the names of those who served and returned in leaded lettering.

The inscription is in leaded lettering and reads: 1914/ 1918// (NAMES)// WE LIE DEAD IN FOREIGN LANDS/ THAT YOU MAY LIVE HERE IN PEACE// (roadside plaques:) NAMES (of those who returned).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3051
War Memorials Online, accessed 2 April 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/172762/

Other
Edenhall War Memorial, Penrith Observer, 14 Sept 1920

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