Hingham War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Hingham war memorial, which is situated in front of St Andrew’s Church, Attleborough 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* An elegant Celtic wheel-head cross memorial with finely carved details.

Group value:

* With the Grade I-listed Church of St Andrew and the Grade II-listed buildings the Manor House and the garden wall and gates to the former rectory.

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 Hingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 40 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the conflict.

Following the Second World War, a dedication and the names of the six men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions.

DESCRIPTION: Hingham War Memorial is located in an enclosed garden next to the roadside and adjacent to the churchyard. It is to the west of the tower of the Church of St Andrew (Grade I-listed) and is in close proximity to the Grade II-listed buildings the Manor House and the garden wall and gates to the former rectory.

It is of grey granite and comprises a Celtic wheel-head cross on a tall shaft with moulded foot. The cross-head is carved in relief and has an interlace Celtic design incised to the west face; a gabled cap surmounts the upward arm of the cross. The words FOR/ GOD/ AND/ KING are carved in relief to the wheel. The shaft rises from a narrow, rectangular plinth with a splayed foot. The whole surmounts a two-stepped, paved base. The inscriptions are to the plinth with the names listed on the cross shaft; all lettering is incised and painted black.

The inscription to the west face of the plinth reads IN MEMORY OF/ THE HINGHAM MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The names of the 40 men who died in the First World War are listed above on the shaft.

To the east face is the inscription for the Second World War, IN MEMORY OF/ THE HINGHAM MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945. The names of the seven men who died in the Second World War are listed above, within an inset panel to the shaft.

To the north face of the plinth are the words YE THAT LIVE ON/ MID ENGLISH PASTURES GREEN/ REMEMBER US AND THINK/ WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN, while to the south face of the plinth are the words THEIR BODIES ARE BURIED/ IN PEACE/ BUT THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 September 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19995
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/104048/

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