Summary
First World War memorial, 1921.
Description
First World War memorial, 1921.
DESCRIPTION: Natland War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Mark’s Church, Helm Lane, Natland, Cumbria. It is prominently situated outside of the west tower of the church, facing the western end of the churchyard and visible from the road. It comprises a lantern-head stone cross with blank gothic style “windows” on each face, a small lead Latin cross surmounting the head, on a slender shaft with four sides (and chamfered corners), on a small moulded plinth, and three-stepped square base. The memorial is accompanied by bronze tablets bearing the names, which are set into the church tower wall. The plinth bears a dedication in incised lettering.
The inscription reads: THE WAR/ 1914 – 1919/.
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 Natland as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Natland War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 17 (originally 6) local servicemen who fell in the First World War and nine men who fell in the Second World War. The memorial was unveiled on 21 August 1921.
The memorial is accompanied by bronze and stone tablets bearing the names, which are set into the church tower wall behind the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Natland War Memorial, which is situated in St Mark’s Churchyard, 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-executed stone cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mark and the Grade II-listed The Abbey.
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
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability