Summary
First World War memorial, c.1920, with Second World War additions.
Reasons for Designation
Costessey War Memorial, which is situated in St Edmund’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: an elegant and well-executed floriated stone cross;
* Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Edmund and a Grade II-listed tombstone within the churchyard.
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.
Details
Costessey War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Edmund’s Church, The Street, Costessey. It is situated by the south wall of the church near to the south porch. The memorial comprises a stone floriated Latin cross upon an octagonal shaft. The cross head has carved fleuron and ballflower ornamentation at the top and at the two ends of the crossbar. The shaft has two bands of foliate incised carving around the top, with incised mock-trefoil arch motifs between. The trefoil motifs are repeated around the bottom of the shaft. This meets with a moulded two-tiered octagonal plinth bearing inscriptions, which stands upon a three-stepped octagonal base.
End of official list entry
