Summary

First World War memorial, c.1920, with Second World War additions.

Description

MATERIALS: rough-hewn grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Bintree War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Swithin’s Church, Church Road, Bintree, Norfolk. It is prominently situated by the churchyard at a corner of the tower. It comprises a wheel-head cross with Sword of Sacrifice in carved relief on the shaft, on a tapering plinth with single-stepped square base. The plinth has recessed smooth faces bearing the inscriptions in leaded lettering.

The inscription is in leaded lettering and reads: PARISH OF BINTREE/ IN MEMORIAM/ 1914 – 1918/ SONS OF THIS PLACE LET THIS OF YOU BE SAID/ THAT YOU WHO LIVE ARE WORTHY OF YOUR DEAD./ THESE GAVE THEIR LIVES THAT YOU WHO LIVE MAY REAP/ A RICHER HARVEST ERE YE FALL ASLEEP (NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 20 February 2017.

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.

Bintree, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected, c.1920. The memorial commemorates eight local servicemen who fell in the First World War and one man who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Bintree War Memorial, which is situated in St Swithin’s Churchyard, 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;
* Design: as a simple but well-executed granite cross bearing a Sword of Sacrifice;
* Group value: with the Church of St Swithin (Grade II*) and a Grade II-listed grave in the churchyard immediately to the east of the chancel.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478406

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.

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