Spilsby War Memorial
Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1493761
- Date first listed:
- 28-Jul-2025
- List Entry Name:
- Spilsby War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1493761
- Date first listed:
- 28-Jul-2025
- List Entry Name:
- Spilsby War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
- Statutory Address 2:
- Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
- Statutory Address:
- Spilsby War Memorial, Churchyard of the Church of St James, Church Street, Spilsby, PE23 5DU
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Lincolnshire
- District:
- East Lindsey (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Spilsby
- National Grid Reference:
- TF4001266105
Summary
A First World War memorial, erected in 1921; later additions for the Second World War and Suez Crisis.
Reasons for Designation
Spilsby War Memorial 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 good example of a well-carved cross, with relief carved decoration.
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 Spilsby, Lincolnshire as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 28 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial is located within the church yard of the Church of Saint James. It takes the form of a large cross with carved sword to its west face. It stands on an octagonal plinth and set of three steps. The design of the memorial takes its inspiration from the Cross of Sacrifice erected on the British cemeteries in France and Flanders, from the design of Sir Reginald Blomfield. Blomfield was the Chief Architect to the War Graves Commission.
The memorial was unveiled in March 1921 by Major-General Sir A R Hoskins, K C B, C M G, D SO.
Two additional inscriptions were subsequently added to the memorial. The first to honour the eight parishioners who fell during the Second World War, and second to honour a parishioner who fell during the Suez Crisis.
Details
A First World War memorial, dating to 1921; with later additions for the Second World War and Suez Crisis.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is constructed from stone and is octagonal in plan. It memorial stands in a prominent roadside location, within the north end of the churchyard of the Church of St James (National Heritage List for England entry 1308892).
The memorial is in the form of a tall cross with tapering shaft, with a sword carved onto its west face. Both the top and arms of the cross have flared ends. The cross stands on an octagonal plinth and set of three octagonal steps.
The inscription is carved into the plinth and steps of the memorial and is as follows:
West face, plinth: TO THOSE WHO/ FROM THIS PLACE/ LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WARS/ 1914 1918/ 1939 1945. The names of the 28 fallen WWI soldiers are listed on two plinth faces to either side of this. On the step below this are the names of the eight fallen Second World War soldiers. West face, middle step: SUEZ – 1956 (the name of a single soldier is listed beneath this).
Sources
Websites
Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer: Monument record MLI125309 - Spilsby War Memorial, accessed 23/04/2025 from https://heritage-explorer.lincolnshire.gov.uk/Monument/MLI125309
Imperial War Museum: Spilsby War Memorial, accessed 23/04/2025 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/43087
Other
Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Thu 03.03.1921 (p.3)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 14-Dec-2025 at 11:59:35.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2025. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2025. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry