Martham War Memorial, Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1438079
- Date first listed:
- 09-Nov-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Martham War Memorial, Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1438079
- Date first listed:
- 09-Nov-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Martham War Memorial, Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin
- Location Description:
- Churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Black Street, Martham, Norfolk, NR29 4PR
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
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Norfolk
- District:
- Great Yarmouth (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Martham
- National Grid Reference:
- TG4549218408
Summary
First World War memorial, erected c1920, with Second World War additions.
Reasons for Designation
Martham War Memorial, erected c1920, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Design interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the simple form of a wheel-head cross;
* Group value: it forms a strong visual group with the Church of St Mary the Virgin (Grade I) and the vicarage (Grade II).
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 the country. One such memorial was erected around 1920 in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin in Martham to commemorate the 41 local men who died during the conflict. After the Second World War a further 10 names were added in memory of the men who died during this conflict.
Details
First World War memorial, erected c1920, with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: of Portland stone.
PLAN: it is octagonal on plan.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, c20m to the south of the south porch, and faces south-west towards Black Street. It comprises an octagonal concrete plinth, a three-step octagonal base and a square pedestal with inset plaques. A tall shaft, with pyramidal stops, rises and tapers in octagonal section from a moulded and square base to a shallow cushion capital supporting a small, square pedestal inscribed with the christogram 'IHS' in relief. Set upon this small pedestal is a wheel-head cross with octagonal arms and terminal stops. The First World War dedicatory inscription is inscribed on the south-east face of the main pedestal and reads: 'TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ THE GIVER OF VICTORY/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE OF THIS PARISH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR US/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919'. Plaques on the remaining three sides are inscribed with the names of the 41 war dead. The top step of the base is inscribed 'AND IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 - 1945' with the names of the 10 men who died during this conflict inscribed on the middle step.
Sources
Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 26 July 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19939
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
The listed building(s) is/are shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map: an octagonal plinth, a stepped octagonal base, a square pedestal and a shaft surmounted by a wheel-head cross) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 12:45:36.
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.