Askham Bryan War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1919.

DESCRIPTION: Askham Bryan war memorial is located in the parish churchyard to the south-west of the Church of St Nicholas (Grade I-listed) and adjacent to the main path to the church.

It is of Portland stone, and takes the form of a tall Latin cross with moulded foot, rising from a square plinth, which surmounts a single-step, square base. The south-west face of the cross-head and shaft are decorated with an ornate Celtic knot work design carved in relief. The cross-head has cusped projections at the right-angles between the cross-arms, which are also decorated with the knot work design. To the centre of the cross-head is a carved symbol of a cross within a circle. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering, painted black.

The principal inscription is to the north-west face and reads, TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ WHO GIVETH US THE VICTORY/ AND IN EVER THANKFUL/ MEMORY OF ALL IN THIS/ PARISH WHO SERVED/ THEIR COUNTRY/ ESPECIALLY THOSE HERE/ RECORDED WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919. The eight names of those from the parish who died in the First World War are recorded on the south-west face, arranged by regiment and include their rank and age. A further inscription is written on the south-east face, which reads “GREATER LOVE HATH/ NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN/ LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS”.