Toft Monks War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Pound Lane, Toft Monks, Norfolk, NR34 0EX

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Overview

First World War memorial, 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:: 1456670
Date first listed:: 02-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Toft Monks War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Pound Lane, Toft Monks, Norfolk, NR34 0EX

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1456670
Date first listed:: 02-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Toft Monks War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Pound Lane, Toft Monks, Norfolk, NR34 0EX

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 the Church of St Margaret, Pound Lane, Toft Monks, Norfolk, NR34 0EX

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: South Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Toft Monks
National Grid Reference:: TM4262795285

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

Toft Monks War Memorial, which is situated in St Margaret’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:

* as a simple but dignified granite cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Margaret.

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

Toft Monks War Memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected around 1920. The memorial commemorates nine local servicemen who fell in the First World War and three men who fell in the Second World War.

Details

First World War memorial, around 1920.

MATERIALS: grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Toft Monks War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Pound Lane, Toft Monks, Norfolk. It is prominently situated in the north part of the churchyard, between the road and the church building, facing the road. It comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross on a tapering four-sided plinth with single-stepped base. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering.

The inscription reads TO/ THOSE WHO DIED/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918// (NAMES)// (NAMES)// LEST WE FORGET/ 1939 – 45/ THESE WERE THEY/ WHO STROVE TO SET THE NATIONS FREE/ NOT ONLY FROM THE SWORD’S BRUTE SWAY/ BUT FROM THE SPIRIT’S SLAVERY/ (NAMES).

Sources

None.

Legal

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