Gosberton War Memorial, Gosberton, Lincolnshire

Summary

First World War memorial designed by Sir Walter Tapper, unveiled 23 May 1920.

Description

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

DESCRIPTION: the memorial is set on a traffic island at the junction of Mill Lane and High Street, Gosberton, South Holland. It is in close proximity to the Grade II-listed building 10-14 Mill Lane. Constructed in Clipsham Stone, the memorial comprises a lantern cross at the highest point of an octagonal tapering column. The faces of the lantern cross are ornately decorated with fleur de lis emblems and other floral designs, as well as depictions of emblematic figures of the crucifixion, St George and St Louis of France, carved in relief.

The octagonal column stands upon an octagonal pedestal which has a chamfered upper edge. The pedestal stands on a two-stepped square base of Clipsham stone. On the front face of the pedestal is a shield with the letters ‘ihs’ carved in raised lettering. Below this is a metal plaque which bears the inscription and names of the fallen from the Second World War in white painted lettering.

The dedicatory inscription and names of those who fell in the First World War are inscribed on a bronze plaque fixed to a stone which projects outwards from the bottom step of the memorial and slopes downwards from the top of the step to the ground. The inscription of raised lettering reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF GOSBERTON WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918. THIS CROSS/ WAS RAISED BY THEIR FELLOW PARISHIONERS.

Engraved underneath are the names of 38 servicemen arranged in alphabetical order in three columns. Under the names is the following: REMEMBER THEM O GOD FOR GOOD AND BRING THEM/ UNTO GLORY THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS AND DEATH OF THE/ CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION.

The plaque on the front of the pedestal commemorating the Second World War reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF GOSBERTON WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945.

Underneath are engraved the names of 15 servicemen arranged in alphabetical order in two columns and below that the inscription reads: REMEMBER THEM O GOD FOR GOOD AND BRING/ THEM UNTO GLORY THROUGH THE SUFFERINGS/ AND DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN OF OUR SALVATION.

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

At the end of the First World War the village organised a War Memorial Committee choosing the architect, Sir Walter John Tapper (1861–1935), Surveyor to Westminster Abbey and well-known for his many church designs. Tapper was also involved in the design of a number of other war memorials around England, including the Loughborough Carillion Tower.

He produced a design for Gosberton memorial by August 1919. The memorial was unveiled on Whit Sunday 23 May 1920. The scheme cost £440 and was carried out by Bridgeman and Co of Lichfield, who also produced many other war memorials mainly in the East and West Midlands.

The memorial was unveiled by Lord Brownlow who gave an address followed by the Reverend Charles Arthur Payne (vicar of the parish church) who read the names of the fallen and gave dedicatory prayers.

Following the Second World War, a metal plaque was added to the front of the pedestal which records the names of those who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Gosberton War Memorial, which is situated at the junction of Mill Lane and High Street in Gosberton, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* an elegant and well-proportioned stone lantern cross ornately decorated with carved fleur de lis emblems and emblematic figures;
* by Sir Walter John Tapper (1861–1935), Surveyor to Westminster Abbey and well-known for his many church designs.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed building 10-14 Mill Lane.

External Links

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