Summary
First World War memorial, c.1920, with Second World War additions.
Reasons for Designation
Ashwellthorpe War Memorial, which is situated in All Saints’ 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;
* Design: an elegant, well-executed design resembling a Cross of Sacrifice;
* Group value: with the Church of All Saints (Grade I), Church Farmhouse (Grade II) and Hall Farmhouse (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 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 Ashwellthorpe as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Ashwellthorpe memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, takes the form of a cross and is located near to the parish church. The memorial was presumably erected, c.1920. The memorial commemorates ten local servicemen who fell in the First World War and two who fell in the Second World War. When it was commissioned, it was decided to locate the memorial on the green adjacent to the entrance to the churchyard. It appears to be little altered from its original state, excepting the addition of Second World War names.
Details
Ashwellthorpe war memorial is located on a village green adjacent to All Saint’s churchyard. It is prominently situated near the entrance to the churchyard on a spacious green. The memorial comprises an elegant Cross of Sacrifice style head on an octagonal shaft with moulded lower section, atop an octagonal plinth also with moulded lower section and bearing inscriptions, beneath which is a two-stepped square base. The whole is surrounded by a paved area enclosed by a set of low posts with chains.
The octagonal plinth has lettering in carved relief around the top, with the dedication to the First World War. Below this are the names, incised, on three of the faces and are infilled in black.
The inscription reads (in relief around the top of the plinth): IN MEMORY/ OF THE/ ASHWELL/ THORPE/ MEN WHO FELL/ IN THE WAR/ 1914 – 1919 and on one face: (five First World War names, B-G), on another: (five First World War names, G-T), and on a third face: (two Second World War names, B-G).
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 November 2017.
