Summary
First World War memorial, early 1920s, with Second World War and Falkland War additions.
Reasons for Designation
Edlington War Memorial, early 1920s 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 community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* it is a well-executed memorial, employing good quality materials and craftsmanship.
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 of 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 New Edlington, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 60 local men.
The memorial was originally erected in the early 1920s and was dedicated to the men of Yorkshire Main Colliery, who were killed during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a further 42 names were added to the memorial. It is believed that the memorial was originally sited at the entrance to Yorkshire Main Colliery, but it was moved during the mid-1970s to its present location.
Details
First World War memorial, early 1920s, with Second World War and Falkland War additions.
MATERIALS: limestone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a classical-style stone pedestal surmounted by an urn, which is raised on a pedimented base. The pedestal has a moulded cornice, with a plain frieze and cornice, above four inscribed ashlar dado panels and a torus moulded base, upon a plinth, which in turn is raised on a two-stepped plinth with chamfered upper surfaces, on a narrow square-plan podium. The south-east dado panel bares the First World War dedication, which reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THE/ YORKSHIRE MAIN COLLIERY/ WHO LAID DOWN/ THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 - 1919, with the 60 names of the Fallen inscribed on the remaining three panels. The south-east elevations of the plinth and base steps bear the Second World War dedication that reads: THOSE NAMED ON THESE/ BASES LOST THEIR LIVES IN/ THE WAR OF/ 1939 - 1945/ 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, with the 42 names from that conflict inscribed in black painted lettering, on the remaining elevations of the plinth and base.
