Summary
First World War memorial, 1922.
Description
First World War memorial, 1922.
DESCRIPTION: Flookburgh War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St John the Baptist Church, Station Road, Flookburgh, Cumbria. It is prominently situated between the apse end of the church, and the main road passing by, visible from the road and beside the churchyard paths. It comprises a c 4.5m floriated cross, with an ornate head, on a tapering slender shaft with incised circular decorations in a strip spiralling down the shaft length and with a moulded cap and foot, on a circular plinth bearing inscriptions, atop a two-tiered base. The plinth bears the dedication in relief-carved lettering, and name inscriptions in incised lettering.
The inscription reads: HONOUR TO THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES THRO’ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ THE PEACE OF GOD TO ALL WHO/ BY THEIR SUFFERINGS STROVE/ TO GIVE THEIR COUNTRY PEACE// (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 Flookburgh as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Flookburgh War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 29 servicemen from Cark and Flookburgh who fell in the First World War.
The suggestion of a war memorial for Flookburgh was raised by February 1919. In July 1920, a faculty was granted for a cross to be erected in the churchyard and the memorial was unveiled on 10 January 1922.
Reasons for Listing
Flookburgh War Memorial, which is situated in St John the Baptist 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:
* as an elegant and well-executed stone floriated cross with decorated shaft.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St John the Baptist.
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
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)