Lymm War Memorial

Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Church Road, Lymm, Warrington, WA13 0AP

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

A First World War memorial of 1921, after Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘cross of sacrifice’ design, with an additional inscription after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1463402
Date first listed:: 08-Apr-2019
List Entry Name:: Lymm War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Church Road, Lymm, Warrington, WA13 0AP

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1463402
Date first listed:: 08-Apr-2019
List Entry Name:: Lymm War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Church Road, Lymm, Warrington, WA13 0AP

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 St Mary the Virgin, Church Road, Lymm, Warrington, WA13 0AP

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

District:: Warrington (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Lymm
National Grid Reference:: SJ6821086838

Summary

A First World War memorial of 1921, after Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘cross of sacrifice’ design, with an additional inscription after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Lymm War Memorial, a First World War memorial of 1921 with an additional inscription after the Second World War, 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 conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* for the strong design interest of the octagonal-section Latin cross, closely based on Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘cross of sacrifice’ design.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary the Virgin (National Heritage List for England 1226650) in whose grounds the memorial stands and which houses plaques naming the fallen.

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 Lymm as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. A memorial committee, chaired by Maj WK Kershaw, was formed to lead the creation of the memorial, which was unveiled on 17 July 1921 by Lt Col T Ridgway. The memorial was dedicated by Rev HE Maddox with Lt Col CT Alexander reading the Roll of Honour. Mr and Mrs Thomas J Ridgway placed a large wreath in memory of their son Issac Althorp Ridgway, followed by the placing of personal tributes from other relatives of the fallen men. At the end of the service the memorial was given into the charge of the incumbent and wardens of the church of St Mary the Virgin, in whose grounds the memorial stands (NHLE 1226650).

Following the end of the Second World War a dedication to the fallen of that conflict was added to the memorial. The memorial does not list any names but plaques bearing the names of the fallen from the First and Second World Wars are located within the church.

Details

A First World War memorial of 1921 with an additional inscription after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: Woolton red sandstone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands at the top of a grassed bank surrounded by gravestones to the rear and overlooking the Lymm Dam.

The memorial is based on Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘cross of sacrifice’ design, taking the form of a Latin cross with octagonal sections throughout, with a sword of sacrifice carved in relief on both sides of the cross. The arms and shaft have lipped, bossed terminals. The shaft tapers slightly and flares at the base, to a short foot. The cross stands on an octagonal plinth with a three-stepped octagonal base.

The principal face of the plinth bears the inscription, carved in low relief, SACRED TO/ THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PLACE/ WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ AND. Below this, at the foot of the plinth and running along three sides, is the dedication ALL WHO FELL/ IN WORLD WAR II/ 1939 – 1945.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museums register, accessed 01/03/19 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/9988
War Memorials Online register, accessed 01/03/19 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/131383
War Memorials Trust website, accessed 01/03/19 from http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1407

Legal

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