Stow Bedon War Memorial

Churchyard of the Church of St Botolph, Gravel Pit Hill, Stow Bedon, Norfolk, NR17 1BX

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

Overview

A First World War memorial, erected in about 1920; a further name added after the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467149
Date first listed:: 11-Nov-2019
List Entry Name:: Stow Bedon War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Churchyard of the Church of St Botolph, Gravel Pit Hill, Stow Bedon, Norfolk, NR17 1BX

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1467149
Date first listed:: 11-Nov-2019
List Entry Name:: Stow Bedon War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Churchyard of the Church of St Botolph, Gravel Pit Hill, Stow Bedon, Norfolk, NR17 1BX

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 Botolph, Gravel Pit Hill, Stow Bedon, Norfolk, NR17 1BX

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

County:: Norfolk
District:: Breckland (District Authority)
Parish:: Stow Bedon and Breckles
National Grid Reference:: TL9612795572

Summary

A First World War memorial, erected in about 1920; a further name added after the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Stow Bedon War Memorial 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:

* for its design, a simple but well-executed cross.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Botolph (Grade II*), in whose churchyard it stands.

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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. By May 1919, it was decided by the people of Stow Bedon that their memorial would take the form of a monument in the churchyard, at the Church of St Botolph, if funds could be raised. A committee was formed to begin collecting money, and the memorial erected in about 1920. The memorial commemorates ten local servicemen who fell in the First World War and another serviceman who died in the Second World War. The names of those who served and returned alive are also included.

Details

A First World War memorial, erected in about 1920; a further name added after the Second World War.

MATERIALS: stone.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a stone cross with carved cross fleury to the face, on a short shaft with moulded foot, atop a slightly tapering plinth on a three-tiered platform. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering. Very low metal bars tightly bound the foot of the memorial, protecting the platform.

The inscription is in incised lettering and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING & GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND/ COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ IN SACRED SLEEP THEY LIE/ SAY NOT THAT THE BRAVE DIE/ (NAME) 1939-1945// THE HONOURED RETURNED/ (NAMES)// THE HONOURED RETURNED/ (NAMES)

Sources

Websites
Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register: Stow Bedon WWI and WWII, accessed 02.10.2019 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/53381
War Memorials Online: Stow Bedon, WMO146848, accessed 02.10.2019 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/146848/
Other
Thetford & Watton Times and People's Weekly Journal - Saturday 17 May 1919, p.5.

Legal

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