National Collection of Lutyens’ War Memorials Listed

• All 44 First World War memorials by the architect of the Whitehall Cenotaph are now protected
• Part of Historic England's pledge to list 2,500 war memorials over the centenary of the First World War
• Historic England urges communities to apply for repair grants for local war memorials

Scattered across England in city squares and public parks are 44 First World War memorials designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944). To mark Remembrance Sunday, all Lutyens’ First World War free-standing memorials are now protected by listing.

The department for Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of Historic England, have just listed Lutyens’ Gerrards Cross memorial building in Buckinghamshire. 14 memorials have had their listing status upgraded and the rest honoured with fitting descriptions on the National Heritage List for England.

Five of Lutyens’ memorials have been upgraded to Grade I, and join his Grade I Cenotaph in Whitehall and Grade I Arch of Remembrance in Leicester.

Previously unrecognised National Collection

The announcement brings to light Lutyens’ war memorials as a previously unrecognised national collection, a legacy like that of Wren’s churches or Nash’s Regency terraces. Seven of Lutyens’ memorials are now Grade I listed – representing half of the total number of all Grade I war memorials in England. Thoroughly researched by Lutyens expert Tim Skelton, their stories are now revealed.

These beautiful and poignant memorials vary in design and scale: from War Cross to obelisk, pavilion to arch, each tells its own solemn story. See below for a full list of Lutyens’ 44 First World War memorials in England.

Tracey Crouch, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Heritage, said:
"The commemoration of the First World War Centenary has inspired people all over England to remember our shared history. Our war memorials provide a lasting legacy for those who sacrificed so much and I'd encourage anyone to nominate their local memorials for listing and preserve them for generations to come."

Roger Bowdler, Director of Listing at Historic England, said: “Lutyens was a key figure in determining how the dead and missing should be commemorated. His designs are admired for the universality of their message. His pure architectural forms are mute symbols of grief, the simple inscriptions weighted with sorrow. These are enduring memorials, which show the power of classical architecture to convey meaning and dignity. We are also very grateful to volunteers who have helped us with these new listings – a new form of partnership.”

Newly listed Lutyens’ memorial

Gerrards Cross Memorial Building Newly listed at Grade II, East Common, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire

Newly upgraded listed Lutyens’ memorials

Merchant Navy War Memorial Upgraded to Grade I (from II*), Trinity Square Garden, Tower Hill, London  

Spalding War Memorial Upgraded to Grade I (from II), Ayscoughfee Hall, Lincolnshire

Southampton Cenotaph Upgraded to Grade I (from II*), Watts Park, Southampton

Northampton War Memorial Upgraded to Grade I (from II*), Wood Hill, Northampton  

Rochdale Cenotaph Upgraded to Grade I (from II), Memorial Gardens, Town Hall Esplanade, Rochdale

British Thomson-Houston War Memorial Upgraded to Grade II* (from II), Technology Drive (moved from Mill Road), Rugby

Busbridge War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), Churchyard of St John the Baptist, Brighton Road, Busbridge

Civil Service Rifles War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), Somerset House, Strand, London

Holy Island War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), The Heugh, Holy Island, Northumberland

Royal Naval Division War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), Horseguards Parade, Westminster, London

Royal Berkshire Regiment Cenotaph Upgraded to II* (from II), Brock Barracks, Oxford Road, Reading

The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Cenotaph Upgraded to II* (from II), Brenchley Gardens, Maidstone

Southend-on-Sea War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), Clifftown Parade, Southend-on-Sea

York City War Memorial Upgraded to II* (from II), War Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road, York

All other First World War Memorials by Lutyens in England:

Whitehall Cenotaph, Grade I, London
The Arch of Remembrance, Grade I, Leicester
Abinger Common, Grade II, Surrey
Ashwell, Grade II, Hertfordshire
BMA Gates, Grade II, Tavistock Square, London
Devon County, Grade II*, Exeter
Fordham, Grade II, Cambridgeshire
Hartburn, Grade II, Morpeth
Hove, Grade II, East Sussex
Kings Somborne, Grade II, Hampshire
Lancashire Fusiliers, Grade II* (Upgraded 2015), Gallipoli Gardens, Bury
Leeds Rifles, Grade II, Leeds
Lower Swell, Grade II, Gloucestershire
Manchester, Grade II*
Mells, Grade II, Somerset
Midland Railway, Grade II*, Derby
Miserden, Grade II, Gloucestershire
Muncaster, Grade II, Cumbria
North Eastern Railways, Grade II*, York
Norwich, Grade II* (Upgraded 2014), Norfolk
Norwich Roll of Honour in Grade I Norwich Castle, Norfolk
OBLI, Cowley, Grade II, Oxford
Rolvenden, Grade II, Kent
Sandhurst, Grade II, Kent
South African War Memorial, Grade II, Richmond
Stockbridge, Grade II, Hampshire
Tyringham plaque in Grade II* Church of St Peter, Buckinghamshire
Wargrave, Grade II, Wokingham
In Grade II Wellington College chapel, Crowthorne