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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Castor and Ailsworth

    Castor and Ailsworth Memorial

    Source: Copyright Jane King

    1/4

    Current Location

    In the south transept., St Kyneburgha Church, Church Hill, Castor, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE5 7AY, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 12474 98522

    Denomination

    Church of England

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-8460

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    8460
    Description
    Rectangular WW1 tablet, with foliate border and tracery at the top, enclosing a crown. The whole is surrounded on both sides and the top by a border of alternating bunches of grapes and squared leaves. The memorial is capped by a frieze of brattishing pattern. Below is a smaller rectangular tablet re WW2. The inscription on both tablets is in incised blue letters. On a wooden shelf below the tablets is an associated Book of Remembrance, containing details of the parish's casualties. (N.B. The ecclesiastical parish of Castor includes the neighbouring village of Ailsworth, which was formerly spelt Ailesworth. The memorial therefore commemorates casualties from both villages).
    Inscription
    Upper tablet: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ (Names)/ MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918 Lower tablet: REMEMBER ALSO/ (Names)/ 1939 - 1945 Book of Remembrance, cover: CASTOR AND/ AILESWORTH/ WAR MEMORIAL
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    16
    Died
    16
    Information shown
    Rank, initial, surname
    Order of names
    Alphabetically by surname
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Number Commemorated
    6
    Died
    6
    Information shown
    Rank, initials, surname
    Order of names
    Alphabetically by surname
    Maker(s)
    • Mr Traylen of Stamford, Designer

    • Mr L Moore, Designer

    Sponsor Type
    public
    Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information
    WWI tablet cost £62 6s and the WWII addition cost £26 15s 6d.
    Maintenance History
    St Kyneburgha Church was Grade I Listed on 15/12/1955, List Entry Number 1126803.

    Ceremonies

    Faculty Granted

    07 October 1920

    Dedicated

    12 December 1920

    Canon Morse (Rector of Castor) dedicated the WW1 memorial. Attendees included Brigadier General Strong and relatives of the fallen.

    Faculty Granted

    25 February 1948

    Custodian
    Church of England

    Components

    Tablet

    Height: 1520mm

    Width: 860mm

    Depth: 295mm(max)


    Made from: Stone - Ketton


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: I

    List Entry: 1126803

    Upper tablet, WW1.

    Tablet

    Height: 455mm

    Width: 830mm

    Depth: 50mm


    Made from: Stone - Ketton


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: I

    List Entry: 1126803

    Lower tablet, WW2.

    Book

    Made from: Leather


    Condition: Good


    • Peterborough and Hunts Standard Saturday 18/12/1920 printed a lengthy report of the unveiling, which began: 'CASTOR'S MEMORIAL A PRELIMINARY TO A GREAT CHURCH IMPROVEMENT. The memorial to the fallen of Castor Ailsworth was dedicated and unveiled on Sunday afternoon. A solemn & thrilling service was conducted by the Rector (Canon Morse), and an earnest and inspiring address was given by Brigadier General Strong. Major and Mrs Pelham, Sir Richard and Lady Winfrey. Mr. P. Winfrey, Mr Wigram, Mrs Morse and Mrs Carter, were amongst those present. The Castor Comrades, under the superintendence of Lieut. Percy Jakes, attended in great numbers, and during the service lined up in the middle aisle. Mr. T. Salmon feelingly payed "O Rest in the Lord" at the beginning of the service. The hymns, most sympathetically rendered by the choir, were "Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand" and "On the Resurrection Morning." The special Psalm sung was the 46th. Canon Morse dedicated the memorial tablet, & afterwards General Strong gave his address. At the conclusion "The Dead March" in "Saul" was played, the congregation standing. After this the "Last Post" was sounded by Trumpeter Albert Mossendew and Leonard Wyldbore, late R.F.A. The comrades formed a Guard of Honour round the memorial, and the relatives of the fallen soldiers had specially reserved seats in the south transept, near it. The relatives of the deceased soldiers present were: ...' The report also stated: 'The memorial is a tablet of Ketton stone, beautifully carved all round and surmounted by a Cross of Victory. There are 16 names engraved on it, and of these no less than eleven were old choir boys. The tablet is placed near the choir, in the south transept. It is hoped that before very long this part of the Church may be converted into a memorial Chapel. The cost of the tablet was defrayed by subscriptions, which were initiated by the late Rector (Canon Jones), the Churchwardens, sidesmen, members of the congregation, and other parishioners...' The report listed the messages on the many wreaths, and mentioned that 'Mr H. F. Traylen, A.R.I.B.A., of Stamford, was the designer of the memorial'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003301/19201218/134/0011?browse=true
    • Historic England's details of the Grade I Listing of the Church on 15/12/1955 can be found at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1126803?section=official-list-entry
    • Biographical details of those commemorated on these WW1 and WW2 tablets can be found at http://www.castorchurch.co.uk/item/castor-ailsworth-war-memorial-file-1/ and http://www.castorchurch.co.uk/item/castor-ailsworth-war-memorial-file-world-war-ii/
    • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/189375/