Scole War Memorial

Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Scole War Memorial, which stands on Bungay Road, near to the junction with Norwich Road, 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 well-executed Portland stone cross.

Group value:

* with the Grade I-listed Scole Inn, Grade II-listed Street Farmhouse and the Grade II-listed St Edmunds Lodge.

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

Scole War Memorial was unveiled on Sunday 23 January 1921, by Lord Playfair, CVO of Redgrave Park, and dedicated by the Rector of Brockdish, the Reverend Wilson W White. The memorial commemorates 13 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and seven men who fell in the Second World War. The site chosen for the memorial’s location was outside the Reading Room, opposite the Scole Inn

The memorial was made by Messrs Wippell of Charing Cross, London, and cost approximately £160. It was unveiled before enough money had been raised for it from local people. Money was still being raised against the debt in 1922.

It is prominently situated in an open grassed area, now accessed by a landscaped tarmac path that leads to a tarmac surround to the memorial, within a low post and chain enclosure on three sides.

Details

First World War memorial, 1921.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: Scole War Memorial is located by the roadside, on a wide verge on the north side of Bungay Road, near to the junction with Norwich Road, Scole, Norfolk. It comprises a 3.6m tall Latin cross with chamfered edges on a three-tiered octagonal base, also with chamfered edges. The tiers of the base bear the inscriptions in incised and blacked lettering.

The principal dedicatory inscription reads IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF// (NAMES)// WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

Sources

Other
‘Scole, Dedication of Memorial Cross', Diss Express, 28 January 1921, p.5

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.

Print the official list entry