Postwick War Memorial Cross

The churchyard, All Saint's Church, Church Road, Postwick, Norfolk, NR13 5HJ

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Overview

First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1921, 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:: 1455657
Date first listed:: 23-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Postwick War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, All Saint's Church, Church Road, Postwick, Norfolk, NR13 5HJ

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1455657
Date first listed:: 23-Apr-2018
List Entry Name:: Postwick War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, All Saint's Church, Church Road, Postwick, Norfolk, NR13 5HJ

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, All Saint's Church, Church Road, Postwick, Norfolk, NR13 5HJ

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Broadland (District Authority)
Parish:: Postwick with Witton
National Grid Reference:: TG2960307820

Summary

First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Postwick War Memorial Cross, 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 All Saints (Grade II*-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 Postwick as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by seven members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The cross was unveiled on 4 September 1921 by Lt-Col Lord Dalmeny DSO MC. One of the commemorated men was Lord Dalmeny’s brother. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.

Details

The grey granite war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (Grade II*-listed), close to the church’s south wall. It comprises a about 2m tall rough-hewn wheel-head cross standing on a tapering plinth. The plinth is raised on a granite step, square on plan, on a concrete foundation. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering. A small granite tablet recording the Second World War names was added at the foot of the memorial.

The principal dedicatory inscription to the west face of the plinth reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN/ MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/ GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THIS COUNTRY IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918. The seven commemorated First World War names are listed on the front face. The later inscription on the Second World War tablet reads 1939 - 1945/ (3 NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 14 March 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19729
Other
‘News Summary’, Bucks Herald, 10 September 1921, p6

Legal

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