Shap War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: Shap granite.

DESCRIPTION: Shap War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Michael’s Church, Church Street, Shap, Cumbria. It is prominently situated at the junction of the churchyard paths in the northern entrance to the churchyard. It comprises a Shap granite polished wheel-head cross with “IHS" monogram at the centre, on a tapering shaft, splay-moulded foot, and tapering four-sided plinth and single-stepped base. The plinth and base are rough-hewn but with polished faces to carry the incised and blacked inscriptions. A low semi-circular kerb surrounds the memorial in matching stone.

The inscription is incised and reads: (NAMES)// TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN EVER/ SACRED MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR,/ 1914 – 1918./ “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A/ MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS”// ON THIS MEMORIAL/ ARE ALSO RECORDED/ THE NAMES OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ IN THE DEFENCE OF/ THEIR FRIENDS AND OF/ THE LIBERTY OF MANKIND// 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).