Thorpe St Andrew War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1919, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Thorpe St Andrew War Memorial, which is situated at the roadside and riverside along Yarmouth Road (A1242) near to the junction of Chapel Lane, 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:

* an imposing but well-executed Celtic granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed Homestead, Grade II-listed Buck Inn, Grade II*-listed Ruin of Church of St Andrew and the Grade II-listed Church of St Andrew.

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

Thorpe St Andrew War Memorial was situated at the junction of Chapel Lane and the Yarmouth Road (A1242) a short distance east from the parish church. The memorial commemorates 40 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and was unveiled and dedicated on 30 November 1919. It also commemorates 49 men who fell in the Second World War; the additional stone and bronze element being unveiled in 1948.

When originally unveiled, the cross stood on its own on the banks of the river. Its enclosure was possibly added as part of the Second World War additions. The memorial was landscaped to make its surroundings wheelchair accessible around 2013.

Details

First World War memorial, 1919.

MATERIALS: grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Thorpe St Andrew War Memorial is located at the junction of Chapel Lane and the Yarmouth Road (A1242) a short distance east from the parish church, by the River Yare, Thorpe St Andrew, Norfolk. It is prominently situated between the river and the road. It comprises a rough-hewn decorative wheel-head cross on a slightly tapering shaft, on a four-sided tapering plinth with single-stepped base.

The plinth bears the inscriptions. The Second World War inscriptions were added as two bronze panels affixed to a granite open ‘book’ set into the ground at the foot of the memorial.

The inscription is incised on the plinth and cast in bronze on the book and reads: (plinth): ERECTED/ IN PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF/ THE GALLANT SONS OF/ THIS VILLAGE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR/ THEIR COUNTRY IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE// 1914/ (NAMES)/ 1915/ (NAMES)/ 1916/ (NAMES)// 1917/ (NAMES)/ 1918/ (NAMES)// (book): 1939 1945/ (NAMES).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/19841
War Memorials Online, accessed 2 April 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/104199/

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