Shelton and Hardwick War Memorial

c16m south of St Mary's Church, The churchyard, Low Road, Shelton, Norfolk, NR15 2SD

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Overview

First World War memorial cross.
Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1457034
Date first listed:
08-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:
Shelton and Hardwick War Memorial
Statutory Address:
c16m south of St Mary's Church, The churchyard, Low Road, Shelton, Norfolk, NR15 2SD
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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1457034
Date first listed:
08-Aug-2018
List Entry Name:
Shelton and Hardwick War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:
c16m south of St Mary's Church, The churchyard, Low Road, Shelton, Norfolk, NR15 2SD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

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

Location

Statutory Address:
c16m south of St Mary's Church, The churchyard, Low Road, Shelton, Norfolk, NR15 2SD

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

County:
Norfolk
District:
South Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:
Shelton and Hardwick
National Grid Reference:
TM2208491021

Summary

First World War memorial cross.

Reasons for Designation

Shelton and Hardwick War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard, Shelton, 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 sacrifices it made in the First World War.

Architectural interest:

* a striking war memorial Calvary cross;
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.

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 Shelton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 16 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Seven men were from Shelton, and nine from Hardwick, the neighbouring village in the parish.

Details

The stone memorial cross is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated by the path leading to the church. The memorial comprises a substantial canopied Calvary. The cross shaft, octagonal in section, has a deep, moulded foot standing on a pedestal. The foot of the cross includes a foliage design carved in low relief within a blind arch to the front face. The pedestal is cruciform on plan, standing on a two-stepped octagonal base.

The pedestal carries the inscriptions, in incised lettering. The principal dedication reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ SHELTON AND HARDWICK/ WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919. The commemorated names are listed on two faces of the pedestal, with THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOR/ EVERMORE to the fourth face.

Sources

Websites
Roll of Honour - Nofolk, Shelton, accessed 8 May 2018 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/Shelton.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 8 May 2018 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/228838/

Legal

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

Ordnance survey map of Shelton and Hardwick War Memorial

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 00:22:57.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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