Summary

A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, altered following the Second World War.

Description

A First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, altered following the Second World War.

MATERIALS: constructed of Aberdeen Granite.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial takes the form of a granite Celtic cross standing over two meters tall on a square, single-stepped base. The dedications sit on opposing elevations on the lower part of the shaft above the plinth. The front (west) elevation holds the following inscription on the shaft: TO/ THE MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF/ NORTH KELSEY/ WHO DIED/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. On the plinth below are the inscribed names of the fallen.

The rear (east) elevation holds the following inscription on the shaft:
TO/ THE MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF/ NORTH KELSEY/ WHO DIED/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1939-45. The plinth below records the names of those who lost their lives.

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

The memorial was unveiled on the 29 August 1920 by Mr H Stamp of Brigg and crafted by local stonemason Mr Wood, of neighbouring Caistor. Inscriptions were subsequently added at an unknown date to commemorate those from the community who lost their lives during the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

North Kelsey war memorial, unveiled in 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a well-executed memorial featuring an intricate Celtic knotwork design carved from Aberdeen granite.

Recommended Books

• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)