Finningham War Memorial
Churchyard of the Church of St Bartholomew, Finningham, Suffolk, IP14 4JB
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437422
- Date first listed:
- 30-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Finningham War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Bartholomew, Finningham, Suffolk, IP14 4JB
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437422
- Date first listed:
- 30-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Finningham War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Bartholomew, Finningham, Suffolk, IP14 4JB
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 Bartholomew, Finningham, Suffolk, IP14 4JB
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Suffolk
- District:
- Mid Suffolk (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Finningham
- National Grid Reference:
- TM0663169379
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled on 16 November 1919, with further names added after the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Finningham War Memorial, unveiled on 16 November 1919, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet striking memorial cross in Portland stone;
* Group value: with the Church of St Bartholomew (Grade I).
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, 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.
One such memorial was raised at Finningham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
The memorial was built by Mr J Cooley and unveiled by Brigadier-General Lord Playfair on 16 November 1919. It commemorates 15 local servicemen who died during the First World War. Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the two fallen of that conflict.
In 2014 the memorial was cleaned and the lettering restored with the help of grant aid from War Memorials Trust. Four low stone posts were placed at each corner connected by a chain link fence to protect the memorial.
Details
MATERIALS: Portland stone, marble plaques.
DESCRIPTION: Finningham War Memorial comprises a tall Saxon cross on a tapering octagonal shaft surmounting a square plan plinth. It stands some 4.5m high.
The inscriptions are painted black onto white marble plaques placed on the front and side of the plinth. The inscription on the front reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / (NAMES). On the side of the plinth a dedication has been added to the fallen of the Second World War which reads: ALSO / TO THOSE WHO FELL / 1939 – 1945 / (NAMES).
The plinth is set upon a square two-stepped base and incised into the front faces of the steps are the following inscriptions: IN MEMORY / SACRED FOR ALL TIME TO THE / FINNINGHAM MEN / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR A.D. 1914 – 1919 and on the lower step: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT / A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Trust, accessed 6 July 2016 from www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=1105
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 July 2016 from www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/156439
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 July 2016 from www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4754
Roll of Honour, Finningham, accessed 6 July 2016 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/Finningham.html
Other
Finningham War Memorial, Diss Express, 21 November 1919
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 23-Jun-2026 at 14:26:15.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.