Summary

First and Second World War memorial. Erected circa 1920 with the names of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.

Description

First World War memorial. Erected between 1919 and 1939. Architect unknown.

MATERIALS: carved in granite.

DESCRIPTION: the war memorial in West Dereham comprises a Celtic cross, with a longsword carved in relief (point downwards), on top of a low, rough-hewn plinth. The plinth sits on one granite step, itself set on one step of granite setts. The memorial sits within an enclosure formed of a low iron railing set into four granite corner posts. The entire enclosure sits on a platform of granite setts and concrete.

The base of the cross is inscribed in leaded letters GREAT WAR. / 1914 – 1919. / SACRED / TO THE MEMORY / OF THE / GALLANT FALLEN / FROM THIS PARISH. The plinth below is inscribed with the names of the Fallen, in two columns separated by a cross. A polished granite slab inscribed 1939 – 1945 / NAMES commemorates the Fallen in the Second World War. The granite slab appears to rest against the rest of the monument.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw an unprecedented wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, 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 West Dereham between 1919 and 1939, as permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial lists 16 names, which represents 10% of the adult male population of West Dereham in 1914.

Reasons for Listing

West Dereham War Memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’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;
* Group Value: with the Grade I listed Church of St Andrew and 11 Grade II headstones in the churchyard.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478794

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

• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)