Summary

First World War memorial, erected in 1921, with Second World War additions. The inscription tablets were renewed in the 1990s.

Description

First World War memorial, unveiled and dedicated in 1921, with Second World War additions. The inscription tablets were renewed in the 1990s.

MATERIALS: of brick and flint with marble inscription tablets.

DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands on the south side of New Road and takes the form of a tall, rectangular pedestal set upon a terracotta tiled plinth of two steps. At the head is a triangular pediment. The First World War dedicatory inscription panel is set within a round-headed niche and reads: THESE / COTTAGES / ARE ERECTED IN / GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE / BLAKENEY MEN WHO GAVE / THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR / 1914 - 1918 [Names]. At the foot of the pedestal is a small marble tablet inscribed: AND THE SECOND WORLD WAR [Names]. Attached to each side of the pedestal are low, curving, flint walls with brick coping, plinths and square end piers.

Standing c12m to the rear of the memorial are the Memorial Cottages, a pair of semi-detached bungalows which were built as part of the parish's commemorative scheme to honour the war dead. The cottages are not of special interest.

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 the country. One such memorial was erected in 1921 in the Norfolk parish of Blakeney to honour the 31 local men who died during the conflict. Over £1,000 was raised by public subscription to build a memorial, along with two 'memorial cottages', on land donated by Mrs Anna Turner on the south side of New Road. Following the Second World War a further eight names were added. In the 1990s Blakeney Parish Council inserted a new inscription tablet over the original tablet. Unfortunately, the new inscriptions contain four errors, all involving the use of the letter C instead of the letter G; the relevant names should read: C.A.G.Cooke, G.P.Hudson, G.King and N.G.Cooke.

Reasons for Listing

Blakeney War Memorial, erected in 1921, with Second World War additions, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impacts of world events on this community, and the sacrifices it made in the conflicts of the C20;

* Design interest: as an accomplished and well-realised war memorial which takes the form of a tall pedestal with flanking, curving walls.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478242

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey