Summary

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

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Cotehill War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St John the Evangelist Church, Peter Gate, Cotehill, Cumbria. It is prominently situated to the outside of the west end of the church, facing the main road passing by. It comprises a Latin cross with the word PEACE at the centre of the cross, on a straight shaft, tapering, four-sided plinth and single-stepped base. The plinth bears the inscriptions in leaded lettering.

The inscription reads: PEACE// IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE UNDERMENTIONED MEN OF/ COTEHILL WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914– 1918/ (NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”// WORLD WAR II/ 1939 – 1945/ THESE ALSO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ (NAMES)/ (NAME)/ KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION.

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

Cotehill War Memorial was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 22 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and six men who fell in the Second World War. It also commemorates a civilian killed during the Second World War. The memorial was unveiled on 7 March 1920 by the Reverend R Botts, Vicar of Cotehill.

Reasons for Listing

Cotehill War Memorial, which is situated in St John the Evangelist 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.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479792

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

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas