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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Hucknall St Mary's WW1 Chapel

    Hucknall St Mary, wainscot inscription re Arthur Allen

    Source: Photo courtesy of Peter Gillings and the Nottinghamshire Great War Roll of Honour

    1/2

    Current Location

    (The Memorial Chapel/ 'Lady Chapel'). , St Mary Magdalene Church, Market Place, Hucknall, Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG15 7AZ, England

    OS Grid Reference

    SK 53349 49385

    Denomination

    Church of England

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-26875

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    Type of Memorial
    Chapel: Dedicated within church building
    WMR Reference Number
    26875
    Description
    War Memorial Chapel (otherwise known as the Lady Chapel), which was dedicated as such in 1920. Above the entrance to the Chapel from the north transept, the reticulated oak screen has the carved inscription "THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE". On the Chapel's north wall, the large five-panelled alabaster tablet commemorates 260 parishioners who died in WW1 (to which our record WMR 26874 relates). Of the three stained glass windows on that north wall, one is the Boys' Brigade WW1 memorial (our ref WMR 26876); another commemorates the safe return from WW1 of G.R. Bostock and H.L. Stevens (our ref WMR 26877). The south side of the Chapel is separated from the Chancel by a two-bay arcade, the upper sections of which are crested traceried screens. The wainscot panelling beneath continues around the Chapel walls, and incorporates 19 relief-carved laurel wreaths (c150mm in diameter), each containing the name/details of an individual WW1 casualty in gilt lettering. [The Chapel also contains the Parish WW2 Book of Remembrance (our ref 107142) and a brass plaque commemorating an Afghanistan War casualty (our ref107141)].
    Inscription
    (Wording not yet ascertained of the tablet inside the Chapel, re its dedication as a war memorial). External face of doorway from north transept: "THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE" Internal Chapel inscription, north wall panel: "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE" Individual roundels on Wainscot panels: (name)/ R.I.P.
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    19
    Died
    19
    Information shown
    Forename or initial, surname, military unit, manner/place/date of death.
    Additional Information
    Full names list not yet held.
    Maker(s)
    • Harry Gill & Son of Nottingham, Architect

    Costs
    £1400
    Maintenance History
    12/10/1988: The Church was Grade II* Listed (List Number 1217611); details mention that the 'Lady Chapel has inscribed traceried wooden screen'.// 1920: Following refurbishment, the 'Lady Chapel' was dedicated as the parish's WW1 'Memorial Chapel'.

    Ceremonies

    Dedicated

    6 June 1920

    The Bishop of Southwell (the Right Rev. Sir Edwyn Hoskyns, Bart., D.D.) dedicated the refurbished Lady Chapel as the 'Memorial Chapel'.

    Custodian
    Church of England.

    Components

    Chapel

    Made from: Stained Glass


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1217611

    Screen

    Made from: Wood - Oak


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II*

    List Entry: 1217611

    • "A Short Guide to the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, Hucknall", published 1/1/1961 by Kenneth George Thompson, (Pages 17-18).
    • Nottinghamshire Record Office: Ref DR/1/1/2/3582; 'Faculty to restore the ancient Lady Chapel'.
    • Nottingham Evening Post, Saturday 5th June 1920 (page 1); printed an image of the refurbished Lady Chapel, captioned: 'The handsome Memorial Chapel in the Hucknall Parish Church, which is to be dedicated by the Bishop of Southwell to-morrow morning'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19200605/005/0001
    • Nottingham Journal, Monday 7th June 1920 (page 2) reported: 'A RESTORED CHAPEL. Hucknall Church’s Beautiful Memorial. Various memorials have been placed in places of worship in Hucknall to the memory of fallen men connected with those particular denominations, but the largest scheme to date is the restoration of the ancient Chantry Chapel on the north side of the chancel of the Hucknall Parish Church, where are recorded in alabaster the names of all men - some - 260 - from this parish who made the great sacrifice. In the midst of this roll of honour a triptych is set, with a cross and crown on either side. Gifts of Windows, The memorial chapel is separated from the main body of the church by oak screens, and the three windows are the gifts respectively of the Boys' Brigade, Mr. E. Bostock, the verger, and Canon Barber, vicar. In addition there are special panels provided by parents giving additional particulars of their sons' heroism. The whole forms a beautiful memorial in a renowned church, and a panel on the outer wall of the chapel records its purpose. So far, over £1,000 has been raised by voluntary gifts, and about £400 was required before yesterday’s services. Bishop’s Sermon. There was not a vacant seat in the historic church at the dedication service yesterday, when the Bishop of Southwell preached the sermon on "God is love." He showed that whilst the war had shattered the faith of many people by taking from them their sons, he reminded them that the innocent Christ suffered even more agony in order that a people who had rebelled might be brought to that former state of unity with God. Afterwards the Bishop, clergy and churchwardens proceeded to the lady chapel, where the dedicatory sentences were uttered by Dr. Hoskyns, who also consecrated the role [sic] of honour. After the devotions in the church a procession was made the Market-place, where a short service was held, and an address was given by Colonel Goodman, of the Sherwood Foresters, the proceedings terminating with the Last Post and grace by the Bishop,. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001897/19200607/048/0002
    • 'St Mary Magdalene Church Pilgrimage, an interactive tour' leaflet; 'LADY CHAPEL: Built in the 13th century and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, hence ‘Lady Chapel’. The chapel was taken down and rebuilt stone by stone several metres to the east to make way for the transepts during the 1887/8 church extension. In 1919, in the great outpouring of national grief which followed the losses of the First World War, the Lady Chapel was re-modelled as a chapel of remembrance for the fallen of the parish. Item 11: Lady Chapel Screen. This beautifully carved screen was placed here as part of the series of remembrance monuments to those parishioners who fell in the First World War. The lower half of the screen is a continuation of the wainscot panelling around the chapel walls which includes tributes to the fallen; each name in gold within a carved wooden wreath'. http://hucknallparishchurch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/dl_church_2015_web_A4_LR.pdf A 'virtual tour' of the Church, including the Memorial/Lady Chapel, is also available on their website http://hucknallparishchurch.org.uk/hucknall-heritage/
    • Southwell and Nottingham Church History Project: Hucknall St Mary History https://southwellchurches.nottingham.ac.uk/hucknall-st-mary/hhistory.php
    • Nottinghamshire County Council WW1 Roll of Honour, re the Parish's alabaster tablet (our ref WMR 26874). https://secure.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/RollOfHonour/WarMemorials/Details/165
    • Historic England: Hucknall St Mary Church was Grade II* Listed on 2/12/1968 (List Entry Number 1217611); mentions that the Lady Chapel ('restored, 1919') 'has inscribed traceried wooden screen. North side has 2 stained glass windows, 1919, by Gascoigne, and east end has a similar window. South side has re-set C13 piscina. To its right, 2 bay arcade with crested traceried memorial screen. Lean-to roof similar to aisles'. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1217611?section=official-list-entry