Thorpe Hamlet War Memorial

St Matthew's Church driveway, Telegraph Lane West, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, NR1 4JJ

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Overview

First World War memorial unveiled on 1921. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454118
Date first listed:: 29-May-2018
List Entry Name:: Thorpe Hamlet War Memorial
Statutory Address:: St Matthew's Church driveway, Telegraph Lane West, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, NR1 4JJ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454118
Date first listed:: 29-May-2018
List Entry Name:: Thorpe Hamlet War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: St Matthew's Church driveway, Telegraph Lane West, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, NR1 4JJ

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:: St Matthew's Church driveway, Telegraph Lane West, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, NR1 4JJ

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Norwich (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TG2434608856

Summary

First World War memorial unveiled on 1921.

Reasons for Designation

The war memorial, situated in the driveway to St Matthew’s Church at Thorpe Hamlet, Norfolk 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 an elegant and well-executed example of a wheel-headed cross, forming an appropriately dignified and sombre memorial.

Group Value: * the memorial is located a short distance from the site of St Leonard’s Priory, a scheduled monument ( List Entry Number 1002895).

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 Matthew's Church at Thorpe Hamlet in 1921 to commemorate the 128 servicemen from the area who lost their lives in the conflict. The memorial was unveiled on the 25 September 1921, and stood in that position ( map reference TG 24013 08638) until it was relocated in its present position near the new St Matthew's Church in Telegraph Lane, built to replace the original church of 1851. The new church opened c.1982 and it is thought that the relocation of the memorial dates to that time. The memorial was later vandalised, and then restored and re-dedicated in November 2003

Details

A First World War memorial of 1921, prominently sited to the east side of the present St Matthew's Church.

The memorial is built of stone and marble, and, when relocated, was erected upon a brick-edged platform.

The memorial takes the form of a wheel-head cross with ornate foliate lopes attached to the four quarters of the wheel, on a tapering octagonal shaft with moulded collar and foot, atop a four-sided plinth with chamfered corners and edges, on a three-tiered base. The plinth bears the inscription in incised and blacked lettering. It reads : 1914 - 1919/ YOU LIVE FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED// (NAMES)// (NAMES)// (NAMES)// IN THANKSGIVING FOR THESE AND ALL MEN AND WOMEN/ OF THORPE HAMLET WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum Inventory , accessed 24/01/2018. from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/54754
Thorpe Hamlet St Matthew’s Church website , accessed 24/08/2018. from http://www.stmatthewschurch.org.uk
War Memorials Online , accessed 24/01/2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/213177/

Legal

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