Summary

First World War memorial, of 1920s date, with later additions.

Description

First World War memorial, of 1920s date, with later additions.

MATERIALS: constructed of stone.

DESCRIPTION: comprising a plain Latin cross on a gently tapering octagonal shaft atop a square plinth with a chamfered top edge. The whole stands on a four-stepped octagonal base. A stone vase bearing an incised Latin cross is set on the second step down.

The main inscription in incised lettering on the north-west face of the plinth reads: (gold-painted lettering) TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ (black-painted lettering) AND IN LASTING/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ EARDISLAND WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR FOR HUMANITY/ AGAINST GERMANY AND HER ALLIES/ (gold-painted lettering)1914 – 1918/. The names of the fallen are incised in two lists on the north-east and south-west faces of the plinth.

The chamfered top edge of the north-west face of the plinth carries the additional inscription: 1939 – 1945/ (NAME)/, one additional name has been added to the chamfers on the north-east and south-west faces of the plinth too.

A small metal plaque with raised lettering has been added to the base of the cross shaft. It reads: THE MEMORIAL WAS REDEDICATED/ ON 7 MAY 1995/ COMMEMORATING FIFTY YEARS OF PEACE/ IN WESTERN EUROPE/.

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Eardisland as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was erected before 1927, as it is depicted on the Ordnance Survey map which was revised in that year.

The names of the three parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

The memorial was re-dedicated on 7 May 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It stands in a prominent roadside location close to the Cross Inn (Grade II) and on the opposite side of the road to the Manor House (Grade II).

Reasons for Listing

Eardisland War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Historic interest:

* it is 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:

* it is a well-crafted war memorial in the form of a Latin cross.

Group value:

* it has group value with a number of Grade II listed buildings in the village.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66480036

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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  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)