Weasenham War Memorial

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Overview

First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later addition. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454124
Date first listed:: 27-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Weasenham War Memorial

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1454124
Date first listed:: 27-Feb-2018
List Entry Name:: Weasenham War Memorial
Location Description:: Junction of Massingham Road and School Road, Weasenham, Norfolk, PE32 2SR

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

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Breckland (District Authority)
Parish:: Weasenham All Saints
National Grid Reference:: TF8517222067

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Weasenham 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 nearby churches of All Saints and St Peter (both listed at Grade II*), between which the memorial stands.

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 the corner of Massingham Road and School Road in Weasenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 13 members of the local communities of the parishes of All Saints and St Peters who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled by the Dowager Countess of Leicester in August 1920. The name of one member of the local community who lost his life in the Second World War was later added.

Details

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

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is square in plan, constructed of grey granite, and takes the form of a plain cross on a tapered plinth and three-stepped base. The front (north-east) elevation of the plinth is inscribed: ‘TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN HONOURED MEMORY OF THE / MEN OF WEASENHAM WHO FELL IN THE / GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918 / THEY DIED NOBLY GIVING THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR / KING AND COUNTRY / MAY THEIR NAMES NEVER BE FORGOTTEN/ (13 NAMES)’. The top step of the base is inscribed: ‘THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945’ and the name of one member of the community who fell in the Second World War. The memorial stands in a prominent location at the corner of Massingham Road and School Road in Weasenham.

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum, ‘Weasenham’, accessed 22 January 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19659
Other
‘For the Fallen: Weasenham Cross Unveiled’, in Thetford & Watton Times and People's Weekly Journal, Saturday 21 August 1920, 3

Legal

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