Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, 1921.
DESCRIPTION: Levens War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Church Road, Levens, Cumbria. It is prominently situated by the south-east corner of the church building, beside the path encircling the building. It comprises a stone wheel-head cross with raised detailing, on a tapering shaft and moulded foot, on a tall and wide four-sided tapering plinth with moulded foot, standing on a three-stepped square base. The plinth bears the inscriptions on two bronze panels affixed to the front face.
The inscription is in raised cast bronze lettering and reads THESE MEN OF LEVENS/ GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)// AND THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WAR OF 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
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 Levens as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Levens War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The erection of the memorial was approved at Carlisle Consistory Court in February 1921. The memorial commemorates 17 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and three men who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Levens War Memorial, which is situated in the churchyard of the Church of St John the Evangelist, 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:
* as a simple but well-executed stone cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Church of St John the Evangelist.
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
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair