Fressingfield War Memorial Cross

c80m west of The Old Vicarage, Harleston Hill, Fressingfield, Suffolk, IP21 5PE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

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

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453718
Date first listed:: 06-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Fressingfield War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: c80m west of The Old Vicarage, Harleston Hill, Fressingfield, Suffolk, IP21 5PE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1453718
Date first listed:: 06-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Fressingfield War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: c80m west of The Old Vicarage, Harleston Hill, Fressingfield, Suffolk, IP21 5PE

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:: c80m west of The Old Vicarage, Harleston Hill, Fressingfield, Suffolk, IP21 5PE

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

County:: Suffolk
District:: Mid Suffolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Fressingfield
National Grid Reference:: TM2613777602

Summary

First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Fressingfield War Memorial Cross, which stands at the junction of Cratfield Road and Harleston Hill, 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 simple yet poignant granite memorial cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with numerous Grade II-listed buildings clustered around the road junction.

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 Fressingfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Perfitts (stonemasons) of Diss, assisted by Mr H Gilson and Mr L Rumsey, of Fressingfield. Following an ecumenical church service, the memorial was unveiled on Saturday 18 December 1920 by Major HP Raven, commemorating the deaths of 28 local men. The names of five parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.

Details

The memorial stands at the junction of Cratfield Road and Harleston Hill, close to Farriers, Knoll House, Richmond House, The Lodge, and Willow House (all Grade II-listed).

The memorial comprises a tall wheel-head cross on a tapering rough-hewn plinth. Around the plinth are eight low granite posts carrying chains to form a square enclosure. The memorial and plinth are carved from pale grey granite and the memorial stands approximately 3.6m high.

The principal dedicatory inscription in applied metal lettering within a recess to the front face of the plinth reads ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF/ FRESSINGFIELD IN LOVING MEMORY/ OF THE FOLLOWING MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ DURING THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918/ (28 NAMES). An additional inscription on the rear face of the plinth reads 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 11 July 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/178852/
War Memorials Register, accessed 11 July 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/4650
Other
"Fressingfield. War Memorial", Diss Express, Friday 24 December 1920, p5

Legal

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