Summary
Portland stone First World War memorial cross, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Raveningham 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:
* an elegant Portland stone memorial cross, referencing the C13 octagonal upper stage of the adjacent church tower.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*-listed) and the Grade II* park of Raveningham Hall.
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 Raveningham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 14 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was designed by Arthur Pells, FSI, architect and Chartered Surveyor (based in nearby Beccles), whose drawing of the memorial is dated July 1920. The design was approved at a meeting of parishioners held on 4 August 1920, and the memorial appears to have been erected in 1921. It was built by HA King (Builder, Contractor and General Mason). Following the Second World War the name of one man who died in that conflict was added to the memorial.
Details
The Portland stone war memorial cross stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*-listed), within the Grade II* park of Raveningham Hall. It is prominently situated by the path, near to the church porch.
Reflecting the octagonal upper stage of the church’s round tower, the memorial comprises a cross patée, octagonal in section, with a moulded foot. The cross shaft stands on tapering plinth, octagonal on plan. The plinth stands on a three-stepped, octagonal, base.
The principal inscription on the front face of the plinth reads TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN / HONOURED/ MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The commemorated names are recorded on other faces of the plinth, along with the dedication THIS CROSS/ IS SET UP IN/ GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO/ PRESERVED OUR/ HOMES IN TIME/ OF DANGER. The later Second World War dedication reads AND OF THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).
The inscriptions continue, running around faces of the upper step of the base, reading THEIR NAME/ LIVETH FOR/ EVERMORE and on the middle step, TO THE ARMS OF/ THY LOVE WE/ COMMIT THEM.
