Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: limestone cross.
DESCRIPTION: Hilborough war memorial is located in the churchyard to the west of the tower to the Church of All Saints (Grade I listed).
It takes the form of a wheel-head cross on a tall shaft with a molded foot. The cross and shaft are inset to the west face, and the cross-head has the monogram HIS carved in relief to its centre with a carved roundel on each of the three cross arms. The shaft rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth, which surmounts a block base. The plinth carries the inscriptions and names in incised lettering.
INSCRIPTION: the principal inscription is to the front (west) face and reads: SACRED/ TO THE/ UNFADING MEMORY/ OF THE EIGHT YOUNG MEN OF/ HILBOROUGH/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE/ GREAT WAR. The nine names are listed on the north and south faces of the plinth. The original eight names include the serviceman’s regiment, and the date and location of death. The additional name added at a later date only includes details of his regiment.
The Second World War dedication is to the east face of the plinth and reads: HILBOROUGH & BODNEY/ SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (5 NAMES).
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 Hilborough, 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 Hilborough is situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably unveiled not long after the end of the First World War. It originally commemorated eight servicemen from the parish who died in the First World War; however, an additional name was included on the memorial at a later date.
Following the Second World War, the names of five men who died in that conflict were added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Hilborough War Memorial, which is situated in All Saints’ 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:
* A well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* With the Grade I 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
Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)