Whittington War Memorial

Churchyard of Christchurch, Whittington Hill, Whittington, Norfolk, PE33 9TE

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456290
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whittington War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of Christchurch, Whittington Hill, Whittington, Norfolk, PE33 9TE

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456290
Date first listed:: 24-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Whittington War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of Christchurch, Whittington Hill, Whittington, Norfolk, PE33 9TE

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 Christchurch, Whittington Hill, Whittington, Norfolk, PE33 9TE

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:: Northwold
National Grid Reference:: TL7163299243

Summary

First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions.

Reasons for Designation

Whittington War Memorial, which is situated in Christchurch 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:

* an imposing but well-executed granite obelisk.

Group value:

* with the Grade II-listed Christchurch.

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

Whittington, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected, around 1920 and faces Whittington Hill. The memorial commemorates four local servicemen who fell in the First World War and one man who fell in the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial, erected around 1920 with later additions for the Second World War.

MATERIALS: dark grey marble.

DESCRIPTION: Whittington War Memorial is located in the churchyard of Christchurch, Whittington Hill, Whittington, Norfolk. It is prominently situated by the churchyard wall facing the road. It comprises a polished marble obelisk, the shaft consisting of two sections, on a tall, narrow plinth bearing inscriptions, with a two-tiered base.

The inscription is incised and reads: THE GREAT WAR/ A.D. 1914 – 1918/ ERECTED/ BY THE PEOPLE OF/ WHITTINGTON/ A.D. 1919/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ WHO FELL BRAVELY/ IN DEFENCE OF THEIR COUNTRY/ (NAMES)// 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).

Sources

Websites
War Memorial Register, accessed 2 April 2018 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53445

Legal

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