Colsterworth

Calvary - Taken by David Jones 25 Jul 2008

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Mounted Plaque - Taken by Dave Jones 14 Jun 2014

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Freestanding with post and chain surround - Taken by Dave Jones 29 Jun 2014

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Freestanding with slate plaque gold lettering - Taken by Dave Jones 29 Jun 2014

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Freestanding wuith slate plaque, gold lettering - Taken by Dave Jones 29 Jun 2014

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Colsterworth-Conservation in progress - Taken by D Purdy 07 Apr 2016

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Colsterworth - Taken by Brian Fare 05 Jan 2019

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Damage to base - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Weather damage to base - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Damage to base - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Side view - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Front View - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Effects of plastic membrane - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Flag stones rising up due to weather and poor drainage - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Effects of plastic membrane - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Effects of plastic membrane - Taken by M Ramage 13 Jul 2020

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Monument - Taken by David Jones 27 Oct 2021

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Monument - Taken by David Jones 27 Oct 2021

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Monument - Taken by David Jones 27 Oct 2021

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Reference WMO/136818

Address:

High Street

Colsterworth

Grantham

NG33 5JA

England

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War Memorials Trust case: War Memorials Trust needs to avoid Contributors changing location/description details as we help to protect and conserve this war memorial through our casework. You can still add photographs, update condition and use the tabs below. If you believe any of the information you cannot edit is wrong or information is missing, please make a note of the reference number and include it in your email when you contact us.

Status: On original site

Type: Freestanding

Location: External

Setting: Roadside

Description: Calvary

Materials:

Stone Limestone
Stone Slate

Conflicts:

First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: This war memorial is a Calvary on a square plinth and octagonal stepped base. The shaft has hollow chamfers rising to a castellated detail at the top which supports the sculpted depiction of the crucifixion. The memorial is made from limestone and has slate plaques attached to the plinth with gilded inscriptions.

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Condition Level:

Comments:

Covid restrictions in 2020/2021, changes in specialist personnel involved in the project and difficulties in securing tenders all contributed to delays to the investigations being carried out for repair.  There has been further deterioration to the flaking stonework in the previously repaired areas but the memorial is generally in reasonable condition 

Site visit was carried out in April 2021 where it was recommended that a shelter protection coat for the protection of the Top Cross was carried out and that this would be required every five years

In September 2021 drawings and Listed Building Consent application was submitted in anticipation of any works being carried out which was approved in October 2021 for a period of three years (expiring October 2024) and tendering process was initiated by the Architects which is still in process

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Condition Level:

Comments:

The memorial is generally in reasonable condition with the exception of the repaired areas where the stones are fracturing. The main shaft of the memorial appears stable and the stone is free from vegetation growth and relatively clean. The inscriptions are bright and readable. The main issues appear to be the failing stonework within the plinth and in addition a continued deterioration of the carved stonework of the cross and crucifixion carving.
he easternmost face of the memorial was dismantled in order to establish the construction of the memorial. The stone in the poorest condition on this face was removed and then surrounding stones carefully removed, finally the coping stone was removed from the structure. This allowed the makeup of the War memorial to be revealed.
As the surrounding green drains onto the area around the War Memorial a flagstone was lifted to examine the bedding beneath.
The structure seemed to be composed of an octagonal stone wall backfilled with a rough rubble mix, with a cementitious binder. The rubble binding material provides support for the copings and the next step of stonework. It is assumed that this infill also provides support for the central column although this was not verified.
It was clear from the opening up, that the War Memorial has been re-built at least once before. The existence of the damp proof membrane and hard cementitious mortar suggests that previous invasive works have previously taken place. This damp proof course and grey cementitious mortar pre-date the 2010 works, however, given the type of materials used it would be reasonable to suggest that this work was carried out within the last 40 years.
The original stone is not the Ancaster hard white used in previous repairs, but, is a coarse-grained stone containing quartz grains.

Bound infill
Lifted flagstone
 This appears to be original and is very rough. The rubble elements appear to be brick and crushed stone, of which some elements are quite large. The binder appears to be cementitious in nature, although probably an early 20th-century mix. Although there is a cementitious nature to this infill, it would seem likely that its rough and porous nature makes it unlikely to hold water in a way which would be damaging to the stone.
Cementitious Mortar
It is clear that at some point the memorial has undergone a significant rebuild which included the insertion of the damp proof course. At this time the coping stones have were re-bedded using a cementitious mortar. We know that in the 2010 repairs cementitious mortar was removed from the bed joints and the structure was re-pointed in Naturally Hydraulic Lime Mortar. It was perhaps not clear in 2010 that the past rebuilding had meant that this cementitious mortar was used throughout the structure as a bedding material and not just in a past phase of re-pointing. Unfortunately, cementitious mortar does not allow for the passage of moisture through stonework to evaporate in the atmosphere and can cause the deterioration of stone through trapped moisture and freeze-thaw action.

Damp Proof Couse
The damp proof course may be the source of some of the current issues. It will certainly be holding moisture against the stone in places, and that coupled with the cementitious mortar may well mean that moisture is unable to escape from the structure. Only the lower ‘step’ of the memorial was dismantled, but it seems reasonable to conclude the plastic damp proof course may have been installed throughout the rest of the structure.

Stone
There are at least two types of stone present within the structure. Recent repairs have been carried out in Ancaster Weatherbed. The original structure is described in the Historic Environment Record as having been constructed from Clipsham stone. 

The investigation there was some doubt that the stone was indeed Clipsham as modern samples of Clipsham Stone are much lighter in colour and are finer grained. However,  the current Clipsham quarry is producing stone from beds that are much closer to the surrounding Lincolnshire Limestone beds and there is a significant variation in colour and grain of stone. Petrographic analysis could still be undertaken, but given written sources and current discussion it would seem that the stone is a buff coloured large grained Clipsham Stone.
Although there has been some failure of the Clipsham stone, the main areas of failure are those which have been replaced in Ancaster Weatherbed. Ancaster is a hard stone, however it does not appear to have weathered as well as the Clipsham.

Paving
The flagstones are faring well and appear to have been simply bedded on the earth and pointed in a cementitious mortar. Given their lack of firm bedding they may drain reasonably effectively, which is important given the sloping nature of the site. However, they do abut the stone of the Memorial and therefore, it would be useful to consider providing some separation to ensure that there is adequate drainage of the structure and ensure that water is not being held against stone.
The Cross and Crucifixion
This has clearly deteriorated and some of the detail of the crucifixion has been lost. The works in 2010 which included some repairs and shelter coating of the crucifixion carving. At the time it was recommended that the lime shelter coat was renewed every 10 years. It would appear that this sheltercoat has completely weathered away
The shelter coating seems to been very effective as there has only been a small amount of further stone loss (above Christ) and this may be as a result of the mortar repair failure. There has also been some moss growth on the cross weathering. The Shelter coat has now completely weathered away and the cross is at risk of accelerated stone loss and weathering.

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Comments:

A public meeting was held in the School-room on Wednesday night, to consider the question of a treat to the returned soldiers and a war memorial. Mr. C. P. Simmonds was voted to the chair, and, after some discussion, it was decided a good meat  tea should be provided, followed by a social evening for the returned soldiers, each quest to receive a memento.  Dr. Steil proposed that a war memorial should be erected in the churchyard, upon the base of which should be inscribed the names of the fallen. Mr. Rogers moved, and Mr. S. Skillington seconded, an amendment, that the memorial be erected on the open space at the south end of the village, subject to the consent of the owners. This was carried by a large majority. It was unanimously decided, in the event of the consent of the owners not being obtained, the memorial should be erected in the churchyard. The following Committee were elected:- Rev. G. Mahon, Dr. Steil. Messrs. S. Skillington, W.H.Wright, and the Chairman, Mrs. Doubleday, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. Woolerton, and Mrs. Abbott. It was thought about £200 would be needed to carry out, in a manner worthy of the occasion, all three objects. There is in hand nearly £40, and it is hoped the village will respond most loyally to the appeal.
Grantham Journal, November 15, 1919.

The war Memorial Committee have entrusted the work of erecting the Wayside cross, which is the Colsterworth War Memorial, to Messrs. Streather and Winn, of Grantham, The Cross, which will be about twenty feet high, is be executed in Clipsham stone, and has been designed by Mr. Wilfrid Bond, of Grantham.
Grantham Journal, February 21, 1920.

The dedication and unveiling of the war memorial took place on Thursday evening. The weather, unfortunately, married the proceedings. The Institute was arranged for the meeting place, and the procession to the Cross was in the following order:- The School children, the choirs, Parish Council, War Memorial Committee, the men who served in the war, Mr. Christopher Turnor, Mr. Wilfrid Bond (architect). A large number of the villagers turned out to witness the unveiling. The hymn, “For all the Saints” was first sung, then short prayers by the Rector, the dedicatory prayers, and a hymn. Mr. Turnor, who unveiled the memorial, said he was especially glad to be there, because there had been complete harmony in regard to the erection of the monument. They were there to honour the glorious dead, who gave their lives that we might be free. But for the men who fought so splendidly, we should now be in bondage to the Germans. It was hard for us to realise the conditions existing in the countries where the German curse had fallen most heavily, conditions so crushing that men despaired. The men they honoured that day fought and gave their lives for the cause of righteousness and freedom. Let us see that their sacrifice had not been in vain: let us, too, fight for the same just cause. In every village, and town, and city in our vast Empire, monuments were being erected to our fallen heroes. But we must do more than this. We must dedicate ourselves to secure the high ideals that inspired our men, and must take to heart the lessons they had taught us, the lessons of sacrifice and of fellowship in the face of danger. We had difficult years before us, but if we faced them in the spirit with which our men faced far greater dangers we should overcome all difficulties, and emerge a better and stronger nation. Let us box our heads and ask God to confirm in us that spirit of sacrifice and brotherly love, by means of which alone we might become a better and more noble people, living under conditions which would ensure happiness to the largest possible number. This would be out great memorial to the men of whom we are so justly proud. An expression of thanks was accorded by Mr. C. F. Simmonds, and a verse of the Nation Anthem and the “Last Post,” by Messrs. Hopkins and East concluded the proceedings. Several floral tributes were placed on the memorial, including one magnificent wreath, “In memory of out fallen comrades,” from the returned men of the village. The memorial is in the form of a wayside cross of the old Lincolnshire type, and is about twenty feet high, having at its top a beautiful carved crucifix, It is of Clipsham stone, and bears the following inscription:- “Remember our noble dead, 1914-1918. May they rest in peace. Charles Ernest. Wm. Bland, D.S.O., Walter Craig Scott, John Thomas Scott, Thomas Henry Scott, John Scott, Will. Henry Cooper. Arthur Saunby, Ernest Brackenbury, Ch. Hen. Doubleday, John Rodwell, Arthur Rodwell, William Rudkin, Albert Beeson, Joseph Houghton, James Houghton, William Lee, Harry Riches, Arthur Spicer, William Foster, Charles Roberts, Vincent |Martin Mitchell, Marmaduke Cecil Thorold.” The architect is Mr. Wilfrid Bond, and the contractors Messrs. Streather and Winn. The foundations were put in by Mr. F. W. Porter, of Colsterworth, and the memorial is a credit to the village, the site being all that could be desired.
Grantham Journal, April 24, 1920.

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Inscription:

Face 1: REMEMBER/ OUR/ NOBLE DEAD/ OF THE WARS/ 1914-1918 1939-1945/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE/ Face 2: (Names)/ Face 3: (Names)/ Face 4: (Names)/ Bench seat: LEST WE FORGET/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 11/11 / Bench seat plaque top: TO ALL THOSE WHO DIED/ IN THE/ SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY/ Bench seat plaque bottom: MADE BY CHRIS KNIGHT/ AT ROLL AND SCROLL/ TELEPHONE (Number)/ Sand boxes: AT THE GOING/ DOWN OF THE/ SUN AND IN THE/ MORNING WE/ WILL REMEMBER/ THEM

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Listing grade:

Grade II (England)

Listing URL:

https://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1062359

Unique listing reference number:

1062359

Conservation area:

No - checked South Kesteven District Council 19/10/23

Local list / Historic environment record:

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