Pentney War Memorial

The churchyard, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Narborough Road, Pentney, Norfolk, PE32 1JW

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Overview

First World War granite memorial cross, 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:: 1455542
Date first listed:: 23-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Pentney War Memorial
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Narborough Road, Pentney, Norfolk, PE32 1JW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455542
Date first listed:: 23-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Pentney War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Narborough Road, Pentney, Norfolk, PE32 1JW

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:: The churchyard, Church of St Mary Magdalene, Narborough Road, Pentney, Norfolk, PE32 1JW

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Pentney
National Grid Reference:: TF7207813849

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Pentney War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, 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 wheel-head cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade I-listed).

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 Pentney as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of seven local community who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

The granite war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated by the churchyard path near to the church porch. The memorial comprises a wheel-head cross standing on a tapering plinth with a single-stepped base. The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING/ AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918/ (7 NAMES).

The Second World War names were recorded on a granite slab placed at the foot of the memorial, the inscription reading THIS STONE COMMEMORATES THOSE OF/ THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ 1939-1945 WAR/ (3 NAMES). The memorial is enclosed by a low granite kerb.

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Online, accessed 12 March 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/225402/
War Memorials Register, accessed 12 March 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53452

Legal

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