Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The memorial stands outside All Saints’ Roman Catholic Church (not listed), overlooking Kitswell Road. It is a tall hooded Calvary in oak, circa 5m high, with a metal figure of the crucified Christ. The timber cross rises from a stony cairn. A polished stone plaque let into the front of the cairn carries the principal inscription, reading CRUCIFIED JESUS/ HAVE MERCY ON THE SOULS/ OF/ (12 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 18/ R.I.P. The cairn is raised on a concrete block: let into this a further polished stone plaque records the Second World War dedication, CRUCIFIED JESUS HAVE MERCY/ ON THE SOULS OF/ (5 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-45.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

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 outside All Saints’ Roman Catholic Church, Lanchester, 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 12 men who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War a further five names of men who died in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

The war memorial outside All Saints’ Roman Catholic Church, Lanchester, 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: a tall and imposing Calvary cross.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478048

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)