Feltwell War Memorial

Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk, IP26 4DD

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Overview

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

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447644
Date first listed:: 16-Aug-2017
List Entry Name:: Feltwell War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk, IP26 4DD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1447644
Date first listed:: 16-Aug-2017
List Entry Name:: Feltwell War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk, IP26 4DD

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:: Bell Street, Feltwell, Norfolk, IP26 4DD

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:: Feltwell
National Grid Reference:: TL7148390712

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Feltwell War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’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: * As a simple yet well-executed granite cross;

Group value: * For its relationship with the Grade I-listed Church of St Mary.

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

Fundraising for Feltwell War Memorial was underway by at least early 1919, with a War Memorial Fund having been set up and various public fundraising events being organised. Land to the south-west of the churchyard, which according to historic mapping had already been enclosed by 1905, was donated by Mr C Hardinge. Local press reports suggest that Mr Horace Edmund King and Mr Lemon Payne were largely responsible for the memorial. It commemorates 46 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and nine men who fell in the Second World War. It was unveiled on 12 December 1920. The memorial cross received grant funding in 2017 to repaint the lettering.

A separate memorial dedicated to the No 75 (New Zealand) Squadron (not listed), who were based at RAF Feltwell during the Second World War, was erected within the enclosed area in November 2003.

Details

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: red granite, concrete.

DESCRIPTION: Feltwell War Memorial is located in a semi-circular roadside enclosure, bounded by walls, adjacent to the south-west corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed).

The memorial is comprised of a polished, red granite wheel-head cross rising from a tapering plinth on a square base. This surmounts a three-stepped concrete base on a broad, stone-slab platform. The plinth bears the inscriptions and names in incised lettering, painted white.

The principal inscription is to the south face of the plinth and reads: IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ THIS PARISH, WHO GAVE THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. The 46 names are on the remaining faces.

Beneath the principal inscription, on the plinth base, is the inscription: WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ (nine names).

To the north-east of the memorial is a red brick wall with a stone pediment and base, carrying a polished, black granite plaque dedicated to the No 75 (New Zealand) Squadron.*

* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest due to its date of construction.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/150549/
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 May 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/150557/
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 May 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53426
Other
Account of unveiling, Bury Free Press, (18 December 1920), pp8.
OS Map 1:2500 (1905 edn)

Legal

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