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Latitude: 54.5317 / 54°31'54"N
Longitude: -2.6754 / 2°40'31"W
OS Eastings: 356389
OS Northings: 515368
OS Grid: NY563153
Mapcode National: GBR 9JR1.L8
Mapcode Global: WH81Y.WC58
Plus Code: 9C6VG8JF+MR
Entry Name: Shap War Memorial
Listing Date: 7 August 2018
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1457760
ID on this website: 101457760
Location: St Michael's Church, Shap, Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, CA10
County: Cumbria
District: Eden
Civil Parish: Shap
Built-Up Area: Shap
Traditional County: Westmorland
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Cumbria
Tagged with: War memorial
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
First World War memorial, 1920.
MATERIALS: Shap granite.
DESCRIPTION: Shap War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Michael’s Church, Church Street, Shap, Cumbria. It is prominently situated at the junction of the churchyard paths in the northern entrance to the churchyard. It comprises a Shap granite polished wheel-head cross with “IHS" monogram at the centre, on a tapering shaft, splay-moulded foot, and tapering four-sided plinth and single-stepped base. The plinth and base are rough-hewn but with polished faces to carry the incised and blacked inscriptions. A low semi-circular kerb surrounds the memorial in matching stone.
The inscription is incised and reads: (NAMES)// TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN EVER/ SACRED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR,/ 1914 – 1918./ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A/ MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”// ON THIS MEMORIAL/ ARE ALSO RECORDED/ THE NAMES OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ IN THE DEFENCE OF/ THEIR FRIENDS AND OF/ THE LIBERTY OF MANKIND// 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
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 Shap as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Shap War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 36 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and ten men who fell in the Second World War.
A local meeting was held in February 1919 to discuss the issue of having a war memorial for Shap. By 5 December 1920 the memorial cross had been unveiled by Lady Bagot and dedicated by the Bishop of Barrow, and plans continued towards purchasing the Public Hall from the Lowther Estate, as part of the wider commemorative scheme.
Shap War Memorial, which is situated in St Michael’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:
* as a simple but impressive and well-executed granite cross made in immediately local stone, to resonate strongly with the locality.
Group value:
* with the Grade II-listed Church of St Michael and the Grade II-listed north entrance gates and piers to the churchyard.
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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