Syderstone War Memorial Cross

The churchyard, St Mary's Church, The Street, Syderstone, Norfolk, PE31 8RY

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

Overview

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, with Second World War and Falklands Conflict additions. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457026
Date first listed:: 16-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Syderstone War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address:: The churchyard, St Mary's Church, The Street, Syderstone, Norfolk, PE31 8RY

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1457026
Date first listed:: 16-Jul-2018
List Entry Name:: Syderstone War Memorial Cross
Statutory Address 1:: The churchyard, St Mary's Church, The Street, Syderstone, Norfolk, PE31 8RY

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:: The churchyard, St Mary's Church, The Street, Syderstone, Norfolk, PE31 8RY

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:: Syderstone
National Grid Reference:: TF8328532659

Summary

First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1921, with Second World War and Falklands Conflict additions.

Reasons for Designation

Syderstone 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:

* a simple yet poignant granite war memorial cross, in the Celtic style.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Mary (Grade I).

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 Syderstone as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Made by Messrs Maile and Son Ltd, it was unveiled on 2 October 1921 in commemoration of 12 local servicemen who died in the First World War. The names of one man who died in the Second World War, and one in the Falklands Conflict, have since been added to the memorial.

Messrs G Maile and Son Ltd of Euston Road, London, were sculptors and church furnishers. The firm was responsible for building numerous war memorials across the country, many of which are listed.

Details

The grey granite memorial cross is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated by the churchyard path near to the church’s round tower. It comprises a c2.5m rough-hewn wheel-head cross with a sword of sacrifice carved in relief on the front face. The cross stands on a low tapering plinth with a single-stepped base and a cobbled foundation.

The plinth carries the inscriptions in applied metal lettering. The principal dedication reads 1914 – 1918./ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ (12 NAMES)/ "MAY THEY REST IN PEACE."/ "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE"

A small rectangular granite tablet placed on the front step of the base reads 1982 FALKLAND ISLANDS/ (NAME). Below, on the riser of the base, the Second World War dedication reads 1939 - 1945 (NAME)/ ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WENT OUT FROM THE PARISH/ TO SERVE IN THIS WAR RETURNED SAFELY/ THANKS BE TO GOD.

Sources

Websites
Roll of Honour - Norfolk, Syderstone, accessed 8 May 2018 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/SyderstoneStMary.html
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 May 2018 from https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/20236

Legal

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