Summary

First World War memorial with further names added after the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: limestone.

DESCRIPTION: Burnham Thorpe War Memorial is located within the churchyard of the Church of All Saints. It consists of a tall Latin cross on a tapering octagonal shaft with a carved collar. The shaft rises from an octagonal plinth with a moulded base. The memorial is set upon a two-stepped base and stands some 3.6m high.

A raised inscription in ornate medieval-style script runs around the top of plinth which reads SONS OF/ THIS PLACE/ LET THIS/ OF YOU BE/ SAID THAT/ YOU WHO/ LIVE ARE/ WORTHY OF/ YOUR DEAD. Below this are the names of the fallen in incised black-painted plainer lettering followed by their regiment and date of death. There is also a band of carved crosses, one under each name.

A further inscription in black-painted incised medieval-style script runs around the moulded base of the plinth LOOKING/ INTO/ JESUS/ THE/ CAPTAIN/ AND/ PERFECTER/ OF OUR/ FAITH.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Burnham Thorpe as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates nine local servicemen who died during the First World War. 

Following the Second World War, a dedication was added to commemorate the three fallen of that conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Burnham Thorpe 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant and striking Latin cross with fine lettering;
* Group value: with the Church of All Saints (Grade I).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478376

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
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  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House