Background

War memorials are a familiar site in the landscape of the United Kingdom. They provide insight into not only the changing face of commemoration but also military history, social history and art history. There are an estimated 100,000 war memorials throughout the UK in many differing forms, from the frequently-seen community crosses or plaques to buildings, lych gates, gardens, hospitals, organs, chapels and windows. The UK National Inventory of War Memorials database marks the unique place that they have in our nation's history and provides for the first time a UK wide database of these memorials commemorating all conflicts, not just those of the First and Second World War.

UKNIWM

The UK National Inventory of War Memorials is part of the Imperial War Museum and is run by two full-time members of staff but the collection of data has been carried out almost entirely by a vast team of volunteers who have completed standard recording forms and taken photographs. These volunteers include local and family history groups, schools and colleges, parish councils and various veterans organisations. Some have sent information on one local memorial, others have tirelessly searched countywide, through parish records and newspaper archives to collate a thorough survey of large areas of the country.

Attempts had been made previously to carry out a survey of war memorials. In 1921 the Imperial War Museum launched an appeal for photographs of memorials but the response was limited and no other attempt was made to record this unparalleled programme of construction. Consequently, no centralised record was ever made of exactly what was being erected, where and by whom.

Over 60 years later, concern was starting to be expressed as to the condition of some memorials and the fear that they would be lost for ever, a fate which unfortunately had already befallen some. As a result, the UK National Inventory of War Memorials was established in 1989 to try and record these memorials of the First World War, and all other historic conflicts. Based at the Imperial War Museum, this was a joint initiative between the Museum and the Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England, now merged with English Heritage.

Principal office:

UK National Inventory of War Memorials

Imperial War Museum

Lambeth Road

London SE1 6HZ