Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: Lazonby sandstone; bronze.

DESCRIPTION: Kirkby Stephen War Memorial is located in the Market Square, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. It is prominently situated at the heart of the settlement. It comprises a Lazonby sandstone cross pattée variant on a tapering shaft, octagonal plinth and three-tiered octagonal base. The plinth bears the inscriptions on bronze panels with white-painted lettering. The Second World War plaques were added around the uppermost riser edges of the tiered base.

The inscription reads TO/ OUR/ GLORIOUS/ DEAD/ 1914 – 1919// (NAMES)// 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 Kirkby Stephen as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Kirkby Stephen War Memorial commemorates 48 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 12 men who fell in the Second World War.

Four different war memorial schemes were proposed as early as March 1919. The chosen design was by Messrs Hicks and Charlewood, and it was executed by Lancelot Harrison of Kirkby Stephen. In April 1920 it was approved that the Thompson fountain could be moved from the Market Square to make room for the war memorial. By 8 July 1920, the memorial had been unveiled by General Sir Arthur Wynne KCB and was dedicated on the same date by Chancellor Campbell, Archdeacon of Carlisle.

The memorial was rededicated 11 March 1967 after damage during a severe storm in 1966.

Reasons for Listing

Kirkby Stephen War Memorial, which is situated in the Market Square 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 sandstone cross pattée.

Group value:

* with the numerous Grade II-listed buildings around the Market Square, including 23 and 25 Market Square, Mitre House, Shop to North of Mitre House and Shop to North-East Corner.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479764

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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