Harpley War Memorial

The churchyard, St Lawrence's Church, Church Lane, Harpley, Norfolk, PE31 6TL

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Overview

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Marble obelisk on a tapering plinth, with three-stepped base. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1446272
Date first listed:: 14-Jun-2017
List Entry Name:: Harpley War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, St Lawrence's Church, Church Lane, Harpley, Norfolk, PE31 6TL

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1446272
Date first listed:: 14-Jun-2017
List Entry Name:: Harpley War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, St Lawrence's Church, Church Lane, Harpley, Norfolk, PE31 6TL

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:: The churchyard, St Lawrence's Church, Church Lane, Harpley, Norfolk, PE31 6TL

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:: Harpley
National Grid Reference:: TF7887226042

Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions. Marble obelisk on a tapering plinth, with three-stepped base.

Reasons for Designation

Harpley War Memorial, which is situated in St Lawrence’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 sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: as a simple but well-executed marble obelisk; * Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Lawrence.

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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Harpley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial commemorates 10 local servicemen who died in the First World War, and six men who fell in the Second World War. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Thetford.

Details

MATERIALS: Marble.

DESCRIPTION: Harpley war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Lawrence (Grade I). It is prominently situated to the left of the churchyard path leading to the south church porch. It comprises a simple marble obelisk, square on plan, standing on a tapering plinth with three-stepped base below. The memorial stands within a square kerbed and gravelled area. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering.

The principal dedicatory inscription reads: THIS MEMORIAL/ WAS ERECTED/ BY THE PARISHIONERS OF HARPLEY/ IN MEMORY OF/ THE GALLANT MEN WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The commemorated names, with unit or regiment, are recorded on the sides of the plinth. The later dedication reads: THESE MEN ALSO SERVED/ WITH OTHERS FROM THIS PARISH/ IN THE 1939 - 1945 WAR.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 29 March 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/196236/
War Memorials Register, accessed 29 March 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19800

Legal

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