Summary

First World War memorial, with Second World War additions.

Description

First World War memorial with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Portland stone.

DESCRIPTION: Ellingham War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I-listed). It is prominently situated near the churchyard entrance, just off the main pathway to the church.

The memorial takes the form of a Latin cross-head with collar beneath on a tall, octagonal shaft, surmounting a tapering four-sided plinth and a three-stepped octagonal stone base. The plinth and uppermost step of the base carry the inscriptions in incised lettering painted black.

The principal inscription to the east face of the plinth reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF/ THE ELLINGHAM MEN/ WHO DIED ON SERVICE/ DURING THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The north and south faces carry the names of the Fallen.

Below the principal inscription, on the top step of the base, are the dates 1939 – 1945, flanked by the names of the fallen from the Second World War, three to each side.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 25 September 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. 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 Ellingham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Like many Norfolk war memorials, Ellingham's is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War. It commemorates ten local servicemen who fell in the First World War and six men who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Ellingham War Memorial, which is situated in St Mary’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 an elegant and well-executed Latin cross memorial.

Group value:
* for its relationship with the Grade I-listed Church of St Mary.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478836

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

• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)