Friston War Memorial
Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Friston, IP17 1PX
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1435814
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jun-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Friston War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Friston, IP17 1PX
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1435814
- Date first listed:
- 22-Jun-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Friston War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Friston, IP17 1PX
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Mary, Friston, IP17 1PX
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Suffolk
- District:
- East Suffolk (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Friston
- National Grid Reference:
- TM4137260483
Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Friston War Memorial, erected in 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as 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;
* Design: an elegant Latin stone cross, derived from the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed church of St Mary.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. One such memorial was raised at Friston, Suffolk.
Friston War Memorial was constructed by Mr Moss of Cemetery Road, Ipswich. The design is derived from the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield’s ‘Cross of Sacrifice’ for the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission. Variations on Blomfield’s design appeared in stone masons' catalogues and were chosen for local war memorials across England. It was dedicated on 22 May 1920 by Ven J G R Darling and unveiled by Miss Monica Heywood. It includes the names of 15 men of the parish who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War the seven names of the fallen of that conflict were added to the memorial along with the dates 1939 - 1945.
In 2012, the memorial was repaired with funding from War Memorials Trust.
Details
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial stands within the churchyard of the church of St Mary (Grade II*), and consists of a Portland stone Latin cross, bearing a stone carved sword of sacrifice. The cross rises from an octagonal plinth which stands on a four stepped base, the top two steps of which are incised with inscriptions.
The principal dedicatory inscription on the plinth reads: IN TRIBUTE OF ALL WHO FOUGHT AND IN EVER / CONSTANT MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL IN / THE GREAT WAR / AUGUST 4TH 1914 JUNE 28TH 1919 / THIS CROSS IS ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF FRISTON / (NAMES)
The top step bears the inscription THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
The second step bears the inscription 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Trust, Grants/Showcase - entry for Friston, accessed 10 May 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=979
War Memorials Online, accessed 10 May 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/117206
War Memorials Register, accessed 10 May 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5498
Other
The East Anglian Daily Times, 26 May 1920
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 14-Jun-2026 at 08:08:29.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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