Whissonett War Memorial

Churchyard of St Mary's Church, High Street, Whissonsett, Norfolk, NR20 5AP

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456090
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whissonett War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, High Street, Whissonsett, Norfolk, NR20 5AP

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456090
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whissonett War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, High Street, Whissonsett, Norfolk, NR20 5AP

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:: Churchyard of St Mary's Church, High Street, Whissonsett, Norfolk, NR20 5AP

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Breckland (District Authority)
Parish:: Whissonsett
National Grid Reference:: TF9190023317

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Whissonsett War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’s 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 this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.

Architectural interest:

* a simple but well-executed stone cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Mary and the Grade II-listed Turnstile to the south-west of the church.

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 Whissonsett as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Whissonsett, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was built by Mr Harrison of Fakenham and unveiled on Sunday 3 April, 1921 by the Reverend Humphrey Barclay, MC, who had been Chaplain to the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The memorial commemorates 10 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and seven men who fell in the Second World War.

Details

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

DESCRIPTION: Whissonsett War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church, High Street, Whissonsett, Norfolk. It is prominently situated by the churchyard path leading to the church porch. It comprises a stone Latin cross on an octagonal shaft with moulded foot and shield of St George in relief to the front, on a four-sided plinth with heavily notched upper corners, on a two-tiered base and concrete foundation. The plinth bears the First World War inscriptions and the upper tier of the base bears the Second World War inscription.

The inscription reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED/ MEMORY OF THE/ MEN OF WHISSONSETT/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)// THEIR NAME/ LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE// 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 3 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/56248
Other
‘For Freedom’s Cause: Whissonsett Memorial Unveiled’, Thetford & Watton Times and People's Weekly Journal, Saturday 09 April 1921, p.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.