Summary
First World War memorial obelisk in Portland stone, unveiled 1920, with additions for later conflicts.
Description
The war memorial is located on the north side of Sheepgate in an area enclosed by a hedge and clipped conifers, with a wrought iron gate to the front. It is a 3.7m tall Portland Stone obelisk. It has a three-stepped base, square on plan, and two-stage corniced plinth from which rises the four-sided tapering obelisk.
The plinth is inscribed on two sides in incised lettering. Facing the road, on the southern face, the inscription reads: ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS OF LEVERTON/ IN MEMORY OF OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT EUROPEAN WAR, 1914-1919/ (8 NAMES)/ with below 1939-1945/ (3 NAMES)/ 16 APRIL 1973. The inscription on the eastern face also reads: ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS OF LEVERTON/ IN MEMORY OF OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT EUROPEAN WAR, 1914-1919/ (9 NAMES).
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 25 September 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 at Leverton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 17 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was unveiled on 21 November 1920. The unveiling followed a service at the parish church from whence the congregation was led to the memorial site by the Leverton Brass Band, ex-servicemen, and the church choir. The memorial was dedicated and unveiled by Captain Harold Colquhoun Marris. The memorial masons were Messrs Thomas Kent of Boston. It was built on land donated by a local farmer, Mr Saul, and the obelisk was funded by public subscription.
Following the Second World War an additional inscription was added to the memorial recording two further names. The name of one soldier who died in Northern Ireland has also been added. The memorial has been refurbished, which included the re-cutting of some of the inscriptions.
Messrs Thomas Kent, a firm of monumental masons of Boston, was also responsible for the war memorials at Coningsby, Freiston, Butterwick, and Skirbeck Quarter (all Grade II-listed).
Reasons for Listing
Leverton War Memorial, which stands on Sheepgate, 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 sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* A simple yet elegant Portland stone obelisk in the Classical style.
External Links
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
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)