Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
York
Town
Acomb
County
North Yorkshire
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 07 May 1922
    Attended by: Dr. F. Fairburn Armytage, Rev. R. P. T. Tennent, Rev. F. Noble, Rev. W, Barton
  • Unveiled
    Date: 28 March 1954
    Attended by: Lieutenant General Sir Geoffrey Evans, Rt. Rev. C. F. Knyvett, Rev. D. Oxby-Parker, Rev. T. B. Naylor
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
30657

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Current location

Acomb Green
The Green
Acomb
York
North Yorkshire
YO26 5LL
England

OS Grid Ref: SE 57211 51347
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
A Latin cross surmounting an octagonal plinth, two octagonal steps and a base. A dove on a wreath is carved in the centre of the cross head. The upper part of the octagonal base is decorated with carved shields containing imagery representing the services. At the base of the plinth is a stone carved to the shape of an open book, the dedications to the Second World War are written on the open pages. The dedications to the First World War are written on the sides of the plinth.
Inscription
LEST WE FORGET/ THIS MEMORIAL IS ERECTED/ TO THE HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE 77 MEN/ OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ AND IN GRATITUDE/ TO ALL OTHERS/ WHO SO NOBLY/ SERVED THEIR COUNTRY/ IN HER HOUR OF NEED/ Other faces: (Names)
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Agar, Hector W
Alcock, George W
Allinson, Arthur
Allinson, George T
Allison., George
Allison, Harry
Alpot, Stephen S
Anderton., Frederick C.
Archer, Robert E
Bagshaw., George
See details for all 137 names
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 79
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 79
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, forename
    Order of information: Surname
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 59
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 59
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Surname, forename
    Order of information: Surname
Components
  • Cross
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone
Listing information
  • WAR MEMORIAL
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
November 2018: Restoration of the memorial was completed. The project was requested by the City of York Council and managed by York Civic Trust. The cost was around £18,000 and funded by City of York Council and York Civic Trust. The masonry was cleaned; WW2 names on the book were re-carved and missing lead letters from WW1 names were replaced. Areas where stonework was damaged were replaced with stone slips. Masonry was pointed where necessary with lime mortar. (With thanks to Project Manager, Nick Beilby.) November 1987: It was reported that the City of York Council was to spend £5,000 replacing the lead lettering of the WW1 names and re-inscribe the WW2 names.
Costs

Memorial: WW1: £500 / WW2: £225

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Other
Responsibility
City of York Council
Reference
  • Yorkshire Herald, 31 May 1919, p7. First discussions and establishing a committee.
  • yorkcivictrust.co.uk/acomb-war-memorial-restoration/
  • York Explore Archives: City of York Council: Parks & Smallholdings Committee Minutes, 1953-1957: Y/COU/5/2/4, Vol. 6., pp24, 44, 51, 99, 114. This covers the restoration of the memorial in 1954 and the acceptance and therefore maintenance of the memorial by the Council.
  • Yorkshire Evening Press, 12 Nov 1987, p17. City of York Council agree to restoration.
  • Yorkshire Evening Press, 17 Mar 1954, p3 and 29 Mar 1954, pp1, 4. Unveiling report.
  • Yorkshire Gazette, 13 May 1922, p5. Unveiling report.
  • Yorkshire Gazette, 5 Nov 1921, p2. Discussions regarding the position of the memorial and cost.

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

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