Great Walsingham War Memorial

c50m to the north-east of St Peter's Church, The churchyard, St Peters Road, Great Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6DW

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Overview

First World War memorial cross. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452691
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Great Walsingham War Memorial
Statutory Address:: c50m to the north-east of St Peter's Church, The churchyard, St Peters Road, Great Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6DW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1452691
Date first listed:: 26-Jan-2018
List Entry Name:: Great Walsingham War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: c50m to the north-east of St Peter's Church, The churchyard, St Peters Road, Great Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6DW

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:: c50m to the north-east of St Peter's Church, The churchyard, St Peters Road, Great Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6DW

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Norfolk
District:: North Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Walsingham
National Grid Reference:: TF9390537570

Summary

First World War memorial cross.

Reasons for Designation

Great Walsingham War Memorial, which stands in the 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 First World War.

Architectural interest:

* An elegant war memorial cross with an elaborate wheel-head; * Unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.

Group value:

* With the Church of All Saints and St Peter (Grade I) and the Barn approximately 70m north-east of the Church Of All Saints And St Peter (Grade II).

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 Walsingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 16 local servicemen who died in that conflict.

Details

First World War memorial cross.

DESCRIPTION: the tall stone memorial cross is located in the north-east corner of the churchyard of the Church of All Saints and St Peter (Grade I listed). It is prominently situated just inside the churchyard entrance. It comprises an elaborate wheel-head cross rising from the moulded collar of the slender, octagonal shaft. The cross shaft stands on a pedestal, square on plan, with moulded upper corners, that stands on a two-stage base. The base has freestone corners and cornice, with knapped flint panels in the sides of the upper stage. A step is built into the upper stage of the base, on the south side.

INSCRIPTION: the pedestal carries the inscriptions, carved in relief. The principal dedicatory inscription on the south face reads: IN PROUD AND/ GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE OF/ THE MEN/ OF GREAT WALSINGHAM/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN THE WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The commemorated names are recorded on the east and west faces, whilst the north face carries the inscription: GREATER LOVE HATH/ NO MAN THAN THIS THAT/ A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 21 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/210058/
War Memorials Register, accessed 21 November 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20047

Legal

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