Summary

First World War memorial. Wheel-head grey granite cross with sword of sacrifice, on a plinth with single-stepped base.

Description

Great Cressingham War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Michael (Grade I-listed), standing to the north of the church tower. It comprises a rough-hewn grey granite wheel-head cross with a reversed sword carved in relief on the front, standing on a plinth with a single-stepped base below. The plinth bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering, reading TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ (12 NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.

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 which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.

One such memorial was raised at Great Cressingham 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 12 local servicemen who died in the conflict and had been raised in the churchyard by 1924, when it was used in that year’s Remembrance Day service.

Reasons for Listing

Great Cressingham War Memorial, which is situated in St Michael’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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Architectural interest: as a simple yet well-executed granite cross;
* Degree of survival: unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent;
* Group value: with the Grade I-listed Church of St Michael.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478769

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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