Gaywood War Memorial Clock Tower

Summary

Clock Tower War Memorial 1920, with later Second World War additions. Designed by Mr J L Carnell ARIBA of Lynn and constructed by Messrs J Medwell and Sons. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated in March 1921 by Admiral Sir Reginald Constance, GCB, KCMG, CVO.

Reasons for Designation

Gaywood War Memorial, constructed in 1920 and unveiled in 1921, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: it is an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: in the form of a clock tower, it is a well-detailed, imposing and architecturally distinctive tribute to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars;
* Group value: with nearby listed buildings.

History

The concept of commemorating war dead did not develop to any great extent until towards the end of the C19. Prior to then memorials were rare and were mainly dedicated to individual officers, or sometimes regiments. The first large-scale erection of war memorials dedicated to the ordinary soldier followed the Second Boer War of 1899-1902, which was the first major war following reforms to the British Army which led to regiments being recruited from local communities and with volunteer soldiers. However, it was the aftermath of the First World War that was the great age of memorial building, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

Gaywood War Memorial was constructed in 1920 to commemorate all those from Gaywood who gave their lives during the Great War 1914-1918. Designed by Mr J L Carnell ARIBA of Lynn and constructed by Messrs J Medwell and Sons for the sum of £500 to construct the tower, and an additional £200 for the clocks. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on Sunday 6th March 1921 by Admiral Sir Reginald Constance, GCB, KCMG, CVO. A tablet dedicated to those who fell in the Second World War was added at a later date.

The war memorial was originally positioned at the convergence of Lynn, Wootton and Gayton Roads. It is understood that the clock tower originally stood on circular steps that formed a mini roundabout which was not an integral part of the structure. It had been removed as early as 1965. The clock tower was re-sited in 1989/1990 to its present position, north of Lynn Road, as part of road improvements.

Details

War memorial clock tower of late Renaissance style and square on plan.

MATERIALS: the tower is of Weldon stone and Carrstone, beneath a stage of English oak and with a roof of cedar boards.

EXTERIOR: a stone clock tower fomed of an ashlar base with a projecting moulded band, beneath three tiers of Carrstone panels on each face. An upper stage of English Oak, with shallow pediments, contains a white clock face, with Roman-numerals, on each side. A square-headed doorway at ground-floor level in the southern side contains a wooden, three-panel door.

The uppermost part of the structure is of dark English oak with four circular apertures for the clock faces, each served by a bracketed lamp. The roof is of horizontal cedar boarding and is constructed with a steep pitch to form a square spire. The pediments are leaded and the roof is surmounted by a leaded ball finial.

On the north side of the memorial is a slab of Granite bearing the names of the fallen in the Great War, with a later commemorative panel on the east side for those who fell in the Second World War.

The Inscription reads: IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN THE/ SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-18/ (27 NAMES). The second plaque reads: IN MEMORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED THROUGH ENEMY ACTION TO PRESERVE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE DURING THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM (25 NAMES)

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 January 2017.

Sources

Websites
Gaywood War Memorial, Norfolk, accessed 8th May 2015 from http://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=26098
War Memorials Register, accessed 8th May 2015 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/54477
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/172472

End of official list entry

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