Summary
War memorial, erected around 1920, dedicated to the fallen of the First World War.
Description
War memorial, erected around 1920, dedicated to the fallen of the First World War.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is rectangular in plan, constructed of grey granite, and comprises a Celtic wheel cross with interlace carving to its front (south) elevation, standing on a tapered granite plinth and base, and concrete platform. The front (south) elevation of the plinth is inscribed: ‘IN MEMORY OF TITCHWELL MEN / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR / (6 NAMES) / GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS / THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’. The memorial is bounded by a low twisted rail, supported at each corner by a wrought-iron bar. The war memorial stands in a prominent location in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary (Grade I), to the east of the path from Church Lane.
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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised in the churchyard of the Church of St Mary at Titchwell as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by six members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It is probable that the memorial was erected around 1920, and is shown in its current location on the 1928 Ordnance Survey map.
Reasons for Listing
Titchwell War Memorial, erected around 1920, and dedicated to the fallen of the First World War, 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:
* as a modest but well-executed memorial.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary (Grade I).
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
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)