Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The memorial stands at the junction of Cratfield Road and Harleston Hill, close to Farriers, Knoll House, Richmond House, The Lodge, and Willow House (all Grade II-listed).
The memorial comprises a tall wheel-head cross on a tapering rough-hewn plinth. Around the plinth are eight low granite posts carrying chains to form a square enclosure. The memorial and plinth are carved from pale grey granite and the memorial stands approximately 3.6m high.
The principal dedicatory inscription in applied metal lettering within a recess to the front face of the plinth reads ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF/ FRESSINGFIELD IN LOVING MEMORY/ OF THE FOLLOWING MEN OF THIS/ PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ DURING THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918/ (28 NAMES). An additional inscription on the rear face of the plinth reads 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 Fressingfield as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Perfitts (stonemasons) of Diss, assisted by Mr H Gilson and Mr L Rumsey, of Fressingfield. Following an ecumenical church service, the memorial was unveiled on Saturday 18 December 1920 by Major HP Raven, commemorating the deaths of 28 local men. The names of five parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Fressingfield War Memorial Cross, which stands at the junction of Cratfield Road and Harleston Hill, 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 granite memorial cross, in the Celtic style.
Group value:
* with numerous Grade II-listed buildings clustered around the road junction.
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)
[(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
For the Record