Hilborough War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Hilborough War Memorial, which is situated in All Saints’ 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:

* A well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.

Group value:

* With the Grade I listed Church of All Saints.

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 Hilborough, 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 Hilborough is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably unveiled not long after the end of the First World War. It originally commemorated eight servicemen from the parish who died in the First World War; however, an additional name was included on the memorial at a later date.

Following the Second World War, the names of five men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: limestone cross.

DESCRIPTION: Hilborough war memorial is located in the churchyard to the west of the tower to the Church of All Saints (Grade I listed).

It takes the form of a wheel-head cross on a tall shaft with a molded foot. The cross and shaft are inset to the west face, and the cross-head has the monogram HIS carved in relief to its centre with a carved roundel on each of the three cross arms. The shaft rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth, which surmounts a block base. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering.

INSCRIPTION: the principal inscription is to the front (west) face and reads: SACRED/ TO THE/ UNFADING MEMORY/ OF THE EIGHT YOUNG MEN OF/ HILBOROUGH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR. The nine names are listed on the north and south faces of the plinth. The original eight names include the serviceman’s regiment, and the date and location of death. The additional name added at a later date only includes details of his regiment.

The Second World War dedication is to the east face of the plinth and reads: HILBOROUGH & BODNEY/ SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 13 September 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/180911/

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