Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 1921, with additions for the Second World War. Stone obelisk on a tapering plinth with three-stepped base.

Description

MATERIALS: Stone obelisk.

DESCRIPTION: Frettenham War Memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Swithin's (Grade II*-listed). It is situated at the foot of the church tower, adjacent to the south porch. The memorial comprises a slender stone obelisk, square on plan, on a tapering four-sided plinth with three-stepped base below. The south face of the plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering. A small metal plaque repeating the First World War names and recording Second World War names is fixed to the west face of the plinth.

The principal dedicatory inscription reads IN MEMORY/ OF/ OUR BRAVE DEAD/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1918/ (10 NAMES). The later plaque reads 1914 – 1918/ (10 NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945/ (3 NAMES).

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.

One such memorial was raised at Frettenham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial obelisk was unveiled in January 1921 by Mr John Cator, High Sheriff of Norfolk, and dedicated by the Dean of Norwich. It commemorates ten local servicemen who fell in the First World War and (since the addition of a small metal plaque in c2012) three who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Frettenham War Memorial, 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;
* Architectural interest: as a simple but well-executed stone obelisk;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Swithin.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478555

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

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair