Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of Holy Trinity (Grade I-listed). It comprises a cross botonée rising from the heavily moulded collar of an octagonal shaft. The cross shaft stands on a pedestal, square on plan, on a three-stepped base. The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED/ IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918. Names are recorded on the other faces of the pedestal and on the foot of the cross shaft. An epitaph on the front face of the base’s upper step reads "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.

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 Marham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 27 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. In January 1949, the Reverend WO Allison chaired a meeting at which a committee formed to arrange for the addition of three Second World War casualty names.

Reasons for Listing

Marham 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 war memorial cross.

Group value:

* with the Church of Holy Trinity (Grade I-listed).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479424

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

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)