Drayton War Memorial

Drayton War Memorial, St Margaret's Churchyard, School Road, Drayton, Norfolk, NR8 6DW

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Overview

First World War memorial 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:: 1454117
Date first listed:: 16-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Drayton War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Drayton War Memorial, St Margaret's Churchyard, School Road, Drayton, Norfolk, NR8 6DW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454117
Date first listed:: 16-Mar-2018
List Entry Name:: Drayton War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Drayton War Memorial, St Margaret's Churchyard, School Road, Drayton, Norfolk, NR8 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:: Drayton War Memorial, St Margaret's Churchyard, School Road, Drayton, Norfolk, NR8 6DW

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Broadland (District Authority)
Parish:: Drayton
National Grid Reference:: TG1805713726

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Drayton War Memorial, which is situated in the churchyard of St Margaret’s Church, 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 sacrifices made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* as a simple but dignified and well-executed design in the form of a wheel-headed cross.

Group value

* with the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*).

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the single biggest wave of public commemoration ever experienced in England, with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact of the loss of three quarters of a million lives had on communities throughout the nation, and 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 erected within the churchyard of St Margaret's Church, School Road, Drayton in Norfolk around 1920. The memorial commemorates the nine servicemen from the village who lost their lives in the conflict, and carries a later general dedication for the Fallen of the Second World War whose names are recorded within the church.

Details

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

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 Drayton 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 inscription reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE/ DRAYTON MEN/ WHO DIED ON ACTIVE SERVICE/ 1914 - 1918/ (NAMES)/ The epitaph reads "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"/ IN MEMORY OF/ THE FALLEN/1939 – 1945 WAR.

The memorial is set within a raised square enclosure of knapped flint walling with shallow flat stone copings. The enclosure takes up the slope of the higher ground to the rear of the memorial.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum Inventory , accessed 24/01/2018. from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/56240
War Memorials Online , accessed 24/01/2018. from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/214000/

Legal

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