Summary
First World War memorial cross,1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The stone war memorial cross is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade II*-listed), prominently situated by the churchyard gates and facing the road outside the church tower. Raised up above the level of the churchyard wall, it comprises a plain Latin cross on a tapering plinth with single-stepped base. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering.
The inscription reads: IN GRATEFUL MEMORY/ (8 NAMES)/ THEY GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR FRIENDS/ 1939 - 1945/ (2 NAMES)/ HOLMAN OF LYNN. The names are recorded with rank and the year of death.
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, 27 February 2018.
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 Hillington as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 8 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial, supplied by Holman on Lynn, monumental masons, had been unveiled by July 1920. It was at first an obelisk in the churchyard. The plinth and base appear to have been reused and the obelisk replaced with a cross, and moved to the churchyard gate, at a later date. Following the Second World War the names of two servicemen who died in that conflict were added to the plinth.
Reasons for Listing
Hillington War Memorial, which stands in the 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 simple yet poignant Latin cross in a finely dressed stone, contrasting dramatically with the flint rubble walling of the church tower behind.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary (Grade II*-listed).
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
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Care and Repair
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2