Grimston War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial cross, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Grimston 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 conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* an elegant wheel-head cross in the Celtic style, with subtle low relief carvings decorating the cross head.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Botolph (Grade I), and Church Hill Cottages and The School (all Grade II-listed).

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 Grimston 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 the names of 37 local servicemen who died. Originally 38 names were inscribed, but that of Albert Sayer, reported as killed in action in France on 27 January 1917, was later removed. Following the Second World War the details of two men who died in that conflict were added, and the memorial was restored in 1990.

Details

The about 4.5m tall stone war memorial is located in the south-west corner of the churchyard of the Church of St Botolph (Grade I), near to the junctions of Gayton Road (B1153) and Watery Lane and opposite the Grade II-listed School and Church Hill Cottages. It comprises a blind wheel-head cross with finely worked concentric grooves and foliate relief carvings on the cross head, on a tapering shaft, octagonal in cross-section. The cross shaft terminates in a tiered, moulded foot surmounting an octagonal plinth with simple foot, on a three-stepped octagonal base

The plinth bears the inscriptions on each of the eight faces in incised but filled lettering. The principle dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads IN/ HONOURED MEMORY/ OF ALL WHO WENT FORTH/ FROM THIS PARISH/ AND GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The commemorated First World War names are listed on six faces (with an incised rectangle where Albert Sayer's details have been cut out) whilst the later Second World War dedication, on the rear face, reads ALSO THE WAR/ 1939 - 1945/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE/ (2 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 December 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19677
War Memorials Online, accessed 6 December 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/252815/
Roll of Honour - Norfolk, Grimston, accessed 6 December 2017 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Grimston.html
Team Benefice website, accessed 6 December 2017 from http://www.ggmbenefice.uk/our-churches/grimston/in-remembrance-grimston/

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