Summary

First World War memorial, 1920.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: Creetown granite.

DESCRIPTION: Bromfield War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Mungo’s Church, Bromfield, Cumbria. It is prominently situated to the right immediately inside the churchyard entrance, adjacent to the Greyhound Inn. It comprises a wheel-head grey granite Celtic cross with knot work carvings to the head and upper shaft, and relief-carved inscriptions below on the shaft, on a sloped foot. The plinth bears the inscriptions in relief-carved lettering.

The inscription reads: TO THE/ GLORY OF/ GOD AND/ IN MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED FOR/ THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 1918/ (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 Bromfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Bromfield War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 14 (originally 13) local servicemen who fell in the First World War and one man who fell in the Second World War. The memorial cost about £120 and was unveiled on 17 May 1920 by Colonel Sir George Dixon, Bart., and dedicated by Archdeacon Campbell.

Reasons for Listing

Bromfield War Memorial, which is situated in St Mungo’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 decorative and well-executed granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Mungo, the Grade II-listed St Mungo’s Well, and the scheduled monument site of St Mungo’s Castle.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479791

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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