Fincham War Memorial

St Martin’s churchyard, High Street, Fincham, Norfolk, PE33 9EH

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Overview

First World War memorial, erected by June 1920, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447508
Date first listed:: 11-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Fincham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Martin’s churchyard, High Street, Fincham, Norfolk, PE33 9EH

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447508
Date first listed:: 11-Jul-2017
List Entry Name:: Fincham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Martin’s churchyard, High Street, Fincham, Norfolk, PE33 9EH

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:: St Martin’s churchyard, High Street, Fincham, Norfolk, PE33 9EH

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:: Fincham
National Grid Reference:: TF6882506434

Summary

First World War memorial, erected by June 1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Fincham war memorial, which is situated in St Martin’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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;

Architectural interest: * As a simple yet dignified Portland stone Latin cross memorial influenced by funerary monuments and ecclesiastical architecture;

Group value: * For its relationship with the Grade I-listed Church of St Martin and the Grade II-listed churchyard retaining wall.

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 Fincham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Like many Norfolk war memorials, Fincham's is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was erected by June 1920 and commemorates 23 local servicemen who served in the First World War and five men who died in the Second World War.

The memorial was restored about 2012. The black chains surrounding the memorial were stolen by metal thieves in June 2013 and replaced with unpainted ones.

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: Fincham war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church St Martin (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated by the churchyard retaining wall (Grade II-listed), facing the road and visible to passers by.

The memorial takes the form of a short Latin cross with a sword of sacrifice carved within it. The cross rises from a square pillar with a simple moulded foot, on top of a two-stepped plinth and square base. The pillar is gabled to all four sides, each with tracery detail and a finial at the apex; it carries the inscriptions and names in leaded lettering.

The principal inscription is on the south face and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD,/ AND IN AFFECTIONATE AND/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH,/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The east face has 11 names; beneath each one are the details of whether the men were killed, wounded or missing in service during the First World War, the related location and date. The west face is the same and carries the names and details of 12 men. The north face has the Second World War inscription: 1939-1945/ (5 NAMES).

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial stands within a small, square gravelled area enclosed by four small, decorative metal posts painted black and joined by chains.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 17 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/83149/
War Memorials Register, accessed 17 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/41432
Other
Thetford and Watton Times and People’s Weekly Journal, (19 June 1920).

Legal

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