Summary
First World War memorial cross.
Description
First World War memorial cross.
DESCRIPTION: Hainford war memorial is located to the south-west corner of the churchyard in close proximity to the Grade II listed Church of All Saints; a path extends to the memorial from the main pathway to the church.
It comprises a stone Calvary cross with canopy, atop an octagonal shaft with a carved collar and square base. The shaft rises from a square plinth which is chamfered at the top and stands on a chamfered foot. The whole surmounts a wide, square stone base with moulded cap and chamfered foot.
INSCRIPTION: the plinth carries the inscription and names in incised lettering. The principal inscription is to the front (west face) and reads: IN MEMORY OF/ THE BRAVE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO DIED IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. The names of the 25 men who died are listed on the remaining faces of the plinth.
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 Hainford 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 Hainford was placed within the parish churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected not long after the First World War and commemorates the 25 local servicemen who died during that conflict.
Reasons for Listing
Hainford War Memorial, which is situated in All Saint’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 Calvary cross memorial.
Group value: with the Grade II listed Church of All Saints.
External Links
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
Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)