Summary

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

Description

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: slate.

DESCRIPTION: Great Broughton War Memorial is located in the churchyard of Christ Church, Kirklea, Great Broughton, Cumbria. It is prominently situated near to the churchyard entrance and close to the west end of the church. It comprises a slate monument of three main sections: a wall- or stele-like panel with a pointed tip, on a four-sided plinth and single-stepped base. The main ‘stele’ section has a laurel wreath carved into the top and bears the First World War inscriptions. The plinth may have been inserted following the Second World War and bears the later inscriptions. All three sections have rough-hewn edges. The inscriptions are incised and blacked.

The inscription reads: IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ THE MEN FROM THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS,/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS" ALSO (NAME)// ALSO THOSE WHO FELL IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR/ 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 Great Broughton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Great Broughton War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was unveiled on 5 June 1921 by Major H Ballantyne Dykes DSO and dedicated by the Reverend A Leech. The memorial commemorates 22 local servicemen who fell in the First World War, four men who fell in the Second World War, and one female civilian killed during the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Great Broughton War Memorial, which is situated in Christ Church 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 a simple but well-executed slate monument.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479753

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.

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