Gillingham War Memorial

Church Road, Gillingham, Norfolk, NR34 0ND

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Overview

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Wheel-head grey granite cross on a wide plinth surrounded by eight matching low granite posts. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1444266
Date first listed:: 15-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: Gillingham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Church Road, Gillingham, Norfolk, NR34 0ND

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1444266
Date first listed:: 15-Mar-2017
List Entry Name:: Gillingham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Church Road, Gillingham, Norfolk, NR34 0ND

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

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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:: Church Road, Gillingham, Norfolk, NR34 0ND

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: South Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Gillingham
National Grid Reference:: TM4106992440

Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Wheel-head grey granite cross on a wide plinth surrounded by eight matching low granite posts.

Reasons for Designation

Gillingham War Memorial, which stands on Church Road, 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 local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a simple yet poignant granite memorial cross in the Celtic style; * Historic association: marking the location where King George V inspected troops in 1916.

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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Gillingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was decided that the most appropriate location would be near to where King George V inspected troops in 1916. The memorial commemorates 18 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the details of two men who died in that conflict were added.

Details

MATERIALS: Grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Gillingham war memorial is located at the northern end of Church Road. The memorial comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross on a wide, tapering, plinth with single-stepped base. This is set into a concrete base with eight grey granite obelisk posts at the edges, once joined by chains. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering.

To the front face of the plinth the inscription reads IN MEMORY OF/ (18 NAMES). To one side of the plinth the King’s inspection is recorded, reading ERECTED/ NEAR THE SPOT ON WHICH/ KING GEORGE. V./ STOOD TO REVIEW TROOPS/ OF THE NORTHERN ARMY/ JULY 26TH 1916. On another side the inscription continues HIS FAITHFUL SUBJECTS/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ 1939 – 1945/ (2 NAMES).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 25 July 2017.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 31 January 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/138131
War Memorials Register, accessed 25 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/72595

Legal

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