Hethersgill War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Hethersgill, Cumbria, CA6 6EJ

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

Overview

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467837
Date first listed:: 13-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Hethersgill War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Hethersgill, Cumbria, CA6 6EJ

Hethersgill War Memorial — Uploaded by D Moore This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467837
Date first listed:: 13-Jan-2020
List Entry Name:: Hethersgill War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Hethersgill, Cumbria, CA6 6EJ

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 Mary, Hethersgill, Cumbria, CA6 6EJ

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

District:: Cumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Hethersgill
National Grid Reference:: NY4783067097

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Hethersgill War Memorial, 1920, 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:

* it is a simple yet dignified memorial in the form of a wheel-head cross with Celtic knot-work carving, executed in Aberdeen granite.

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 Hethersgill as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War.

The war memorial was erected at a cost of £120 raised by public subscription. It was unveiled within the churchyard of the Church of St Mary on 11 June 1920 by the Reverend D Railton, MC, CF, of Folkestone and dedicated by the local rector. The name of a further serviceman who died of his wounds in 1921 was subsequently added to the memorial. After the Second World War, the names of three fallen of that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Aberdeen granite

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is prominently sited to face the main road within the churchyard of the Church of St Mary. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross with a central boss and Celtic knot-work in relief to the arms. It has a short, tapering shaft with a tapering panel of intricate knot- work carvings. The cross surmounts a tapering plinth and has a moulded foot for a base. The plinth bears the inscription on an incised granite plaque and reads:

IN MEMORY OF / THE GLORIOUS DEAD / 1914-1918 / [names] / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS

The rear of the war memorial records a further loss:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF / A [name] / OBIT 22ND MARCH 1921

The Second World War inscription occupies the left side of the plinth and reads:

IN PROUD / REMEMBRANCE OF / [names] / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR / 1939-1945

Sources

Websites
The Second World War blog, 19 November 2013, ‘Hethersgill War Memorial, Cumbria , accessed 07 November 2019 from http://2ndww.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/hethersgill-war-memorial-cumbria.html
War Memorials Online - Hethersgill, accessed 07 November 2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/177236/
War Memorials Register, Imperial War Museum Inventory , accessed 07 November 2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/69335

Legal

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