Tibenham War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions.

Reasons for Designation

Tibenham War Memorial, unveiled in 1920, 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:

* as a modest but well-executed memorial.

Group value:

* with the Church of All Saints (listed at Grade I).

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Tibenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The names of 23 local men of Tibenham who fell during the First World War are remembered on a war memorial in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints, and includes the names of three bell ringers of the church. The memorial was executed and erected by Mr R F Perfitt of Diss, and the cost of around £100 was paid by public subscription. The memorial was unveiled in a ceremony in April 1920 by Mr H Betts of Channonz Hall, Tibenham, and dedicated by the Reverend Canon Pelham of Norwich. The war memorial is shown in its current location on the 1928 Ordnance Survey map. The names of three local men who fell during the Second World War were later added.

Details

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is octagonal in plan, and comprises a Latin cross, plinth and base, executed in Carrera marble (imitating the Cross of Sacrifice design by Sir Reginald Blomfield), bearing a small metal cross on its front (west) elevation, and standing on a Portland stone platform. The eight sides of the plinth are inscribed: '1914-18 / THESE WERE / OUR CHILDREN / WHO DIED / FOR OUR / HOMES THEY / WERE DEAR / IN OUR SIGHT’. The names of the fallen of the First World War (1914-18) are inscribed on the four western sides of the plinth, and the three names of the fallen of the Second World War (1939 – 45) were added to the base of the front (west) elevation. The war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (listed at Grade I), and is prominently located along the path from Church Road.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 19 January 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/240230/
Geograph, 'Tibenham war memorial', accessed 19 January 2018 from http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4485726
Network Norwich, 'Art Alive memorial trail in Norfolk churches', accessed 19 January 2018 from https://www.networknorwich.co.uk/Articles/417558/Network_Norwich_and_Norfolk/Resources/Culture/Art_Alive_memorial_trail_in_Norfolk_churches.aspx

Other
Diss Express, Friday 16 April 1920, 8

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

Print the official list entry