Summary

First World War memorial, 1920.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: Cornish granite.

DESCRIPTION: Kirkbampton War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, B5307, Kirkbampton, Cumbria. It is prominently situated in the north-west corner of the churchyard, facing the main road passing by, and adjacent to the churchyard entrance. It comprises a c.2.5m high Cornish granite wheel-head cross with Celtic knot work to the face, on a wide, tapering shaft, and four-sided plinth. The shaft and plinth bear the inscriptions in incised and blacked lettering.

The inscription is in incised and blacked lettering and reads: IN/ MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ AND/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)// "WHO STANDS IF FREEDOM FALL"/ "WHO DIES IF ENGLAND LIVE".

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 Kirkbampton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Kirkbampton War Memorial stands within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates five local servicemen who fell in the First World War and four men who fell in the Second World War. The memorial was built on the site of the old Parish School and was made by Messrs J Rogerson and Son of Carlisle. It was unveiled and dedicated on 12 September 1920 by the churchwarden Mr John Lawson and the Vicar of St Paul’s Church Carlisle, Canon Gardner.

The inscription on the plinth was taken from the poem by Rudyard Kipling.

Reasons for Listing

Kirkbampton War Memorial, which is situated in St Peter’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 well-executed granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Peter.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q56650159

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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  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
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