Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

Description

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: Aberdeen granite.

DESCRIPTION: Brigham War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Bridget, south of the A66, north of Low Road, Brigham, Cumbria. It is prominently situated off the churchyard path near to the church entrance. It comprises a rustic, red Aberdeen granite cross on a short shaft, surmounting a large rough-hewn tapering plinth with a polished inscription face to the front, and a similar base block below. It is set within a five-sided red Aberdeen granite kerb area accessed by three steps. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised and white-infilled lettering.

The inscription reads IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF BRIGHAM PARISH/ WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”// 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 Brigham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Brigham War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 22 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 16 men who fell in the Second World War.

A faculty for the memorial’s erection was granted 27 July 1920. It was built by Walker Brothers of Cockermouth. The memorial was unveiled in March 1921 and dedicated by the Bishop of Carlisle. The Memorial Hall that formed part of the wider commemorative scheme was unveiled in November 1924.

The memorial was repaired in around 2015.

Reasons for Listing

Brigham War Memorial, which is situated in St Bridget’s Churchyard, Brigham, 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 granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Bridget and the Grade II-listed Sundial South of the Church.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479744

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

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