Docking War Memorial

St Mary’s Churchyard, Chequers Street (B1454), Docking, Norfolk, PE31 8LW

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Overview

First World War memorial, c.1920, with Second World War additions.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1442270
Date first listed:
23-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:
Docking War Memorial
Statutory Address:
St Mary’s Churchyard, Chequers Street (B1454), Docking, Norfolk, PE31 8LW
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1442270
Date first listed:
23-Feb-2017
List Entry Name:
Docking War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
St Mary’s Churchyard, Chequers Street (B1454), Docking, Norfolk, PE31 8LW

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
St Mary’s Churchyard, Chequers Street (B1454), Docking, Norfolk, PE31 8LW

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:
Norfolk
District:
King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Docking
National Grid Reference:
TF7654636959

Summary

First World War memorial, c.1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Docking War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’s Churchyard, 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;
* Architectural interest: a simple but well-executed granite cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary the Virgin, its Grade II-listed lychgate and the Grade II-listed Former Gateway to Docking Hall.

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 war memorial was raised at Docking as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Docking memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected c.1920. The memorial commemorates 30 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 14 men who fell in the Second World War.

Details

MATERIALS: rough-hewn grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Docking War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, Chequers Street, Docking. It is prominently situated alongside the churchyard path leading from the lychgate to the south porch of the church. The memorial comprises a wheel-head cross with a Sword of Sacrifice carved in relief, atop a tapering plinth with a two-stepped base below.

The inscription is in leaded lettering and reads: TO THE MEMORY OF THE DOCKING MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE// TO THE MEMORY OF THE/ DOCKING MEN WHO FELL IN/ THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES)/ “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 29 Nov 2016 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53454
War Memorials Online, accessed 29 Nov 2016 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138760/

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Docking War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 04-Jun-2026 at 10:21:40.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

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.

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