The Memorial Lychgate at St. Mary's Church, Whitkirk, Leeds

The Memorial Lychgate of St Mary's Church at Whitkirk in east Leeds was dedicated in 1949. It is an unusual, perhaps unique, War Memorial that commemorates symbolic features from the Second World War. Two stonework panels on the outside of the walls contain blocks from six important war damaged buildings. The stones can be identified as follows: Permian Magnesian Limestone (Cadeby Formation, Anston Stone) from the Houses of Parliament, London; Upper Jurassic Portland Stone from St Paul's Cathedral, London; Triassic New Red Sandstone (Sherwood Sandstone Group, Hollington Formation) from Coventry Cathedral; Middle Jurassic Ketton Stone from St Martin-le-Grand in York (used for 1920-1930s restoration work); Carboniferous Millstone Grit (Lower Follifoot Grit) from Leeds Town Hall; and Carboniferous Coal Measures (Elland Flags, Harehills Stone) from the Leeds Philosophical Hall and Museum. All these stones played an important part in the history of British building stones, and it is remarkable to find examples of them all at one locality. Their source is discussed.