Summary
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: grey Devonshire granite from Dartmoor.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial is located in the churchyard of the Grade I listed All Saints Church. It consists of a rough-hewn Celtic wheel head cross on a slightly tapering shaft, resting upon a three-tiered octagonal base that bears the inscriptions. The cross head is decorated with carved strapwork and the Crown of Victory at the centre. The memorial is surrounded by eight low granite posts.
The inscription is in black-painted relief lettering and reads: THEIR NAME/ LIVETH FOR/ EVERMORE/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF SHIPDHAM/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1919/ (NAMES)/ TO/ THE FALLEN/ 8TH BOMBER/ COMMAND/ U.S.A.A.F./ 1939-1945/ (NAMES).
History
Shipdham war memorial was unveiled by the Dean of Norwich on 6 February 1921 and, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. It commemorates 29 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and 10 men who fell in the Second World War. It also commemorates the fact that the 8th Bomber Command USAAF were based at Shipdham Airfield. In 2012 the names of two further casualties from the Second World War were added.
The memorial was built at a cost of around £170 by the stonemasons Messrs Harry Hems and Sons whose workshop was based in Exeter. After the death of Harry Hems in 1916, the workshop continued to flourish under his three sons, Greville, Wilfred and Harry, who were best known for their ecclesiastical work. Amongst their most notable work is the conservation of the medieval screen at St Alban’s Cathedral.
Reasons for Listing
Shipdham War Memorial is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* it is 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.
Group value:
* it has strong 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
Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair