Summary

First World War memorial.

Description

First World War memorial.

MATERIALS: grey granite cross.

DESCRIPTION: Gunthorpe war memorial is located in the churchyard to the south-west of the Church of St Mary (Grade II* listed), adjacent to the entrance to the churchyard.

It takes the form of a Celtic wheel-head cross with knot work designs carved in relief to the cross-head; the centre of the cross-head is diamond-shaped and has the monogram HIS carved in relief. The cross has a tall, tapering shaft, which is inset to the front (east) face and has Celtic knot work carved in relief near the base. The shaft rises from a tapering, rough-hewn plinth with a smooth front (east) face carrying the inscription.

INSCRIPTION: the inscription is in raised, leaded lettering and reads: FOR GOD/ FOR KING AND COUNTRY/ IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF/ (9 NAMES)/ WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 - 1918/ R.I.P./ “THESE DIED IN WAR THAT WE AT PEACE MIGHT LIVE/ THESE GAVE THEIR BEST, SO WE OUR BEST SHOULD GIVE/ NOT FOR THEMSELVES, FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM, RIGHT/ THEY FOUGHT, AND BID US FORWARD TO THE FIGHT”

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: The memorial stands within a small, square area of gravel bounded by granite kerbs.

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 Gunthorpe 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, the example at Gunthorpe was placed within the parish churchyard. It was presumably erected not long after the end of the First World War and commemorates nine local men who died in service during that conflict.

Reasons for Listing

Gunthorpe 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 during the First World War.

Architectural interest:

* A well-executed Celtic wheel-head cross memorial with finely carved knot work designs to the cross head.

* Group value: with the Grade II* listed Church of St Mary.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478964

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

• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas