Great Massingham War Memorial

St Mary’s Churchyard, Church Lane, Great Massingham, Norfolk, PE32 2HY

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Overview

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

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1449580
Date first listed:: 01-Sep-2017
List Entry Name:: Great Massingham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Mary’s Churchyard, Church Lane, Great Massingham, Norfolk, PE32 2HY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1449580
Date first listed:: 01-Sep-2017
List Entry Name:: Great Massingham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Mary’s Churchyard, Church Lane, Great Massingham, Norfolk, PE32 2HY

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 Mary’s Churchyard, Church Lane, Great Massingham, Norfolk, PE32 2HY

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:: Great Massingham
National Grid Reference:: TF7984422945

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Great Massingham 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:

* An elegant cross bottonée war memorial with finely carved details;

Group value:

* 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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Great Massingham 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, the example at Great Massingham was placed within the parish churchyard. The memorial was unveiled in November 1920 by Colonel McNeil and commemorates 21 local servicemen who fell in the First World War.

Following the Second World War, the dates of that conflict and the name of the single casualty from the parish was added to the memorial.

Details

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

DESCRIPTION: Great Massingham war memorial is located to the west of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed), within the churchyard and adjacent to the main path leading to the church.

It is of Portland stone and takes the form of a cross bottonée; a Greek cross with each arm terminating in a trefoil. This surmounts an octagonal shaft with a molded collar in the shape of a crown with trefoil finials. The shaft has a square base and rises from a square plinth with a molded, tiered cap and chamfered foot, atop a three-stepped base. The whole stands on a tapering, stone block.

The faces of the plinth carry the inscription and names, which are in incised lettering, painted black. The principal inscription is to the west face and reads: THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918/ LET US REMEMBER IN LOVE AND/ GRATITUDE THESE OUR BROTHERS/ WHO DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE/ AND LET US SEEK TO WALK WORTHY/ OF THEIR SACRIFICE. The 21 names of those who died are listed on the north and south faces, with the east face carrying the inscription "IF YE SUFFER FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS/ SAKE HAPPY ARE YE" 1 ST PETER III 14

To the south face of the base of the shaft are the dates of the Second World War 1939 – 1945 with the name of the single casualty inscribed above.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial is enclosed by eight decorative metal posts of barley twist design with finials, joined by chains. All are painted black.

Sources

Websites
Geograph, accessed 1 August 2017 from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4527055
Roll of Honour, Great Massingham War Memorial, accessed 01 August 2017 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/GreatMassingham.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 1 August 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/158935/
War Memorials Register, accessed 1 August 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19695

Legal

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