Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions.
Description
First World War memorial, unveiled in 1920, with later additions.
DESCRIPTION: the war memorial is rectangular in plan, constructed of grey granite, and takes the form of a Celtic wheeled cross, with a tapered shaft, two-stepped plinth, and rusticated base. The front (north) elevation of the plinth is inscribed ‘FOR THEIR COUNTRY / 1914 – 1919’, followed by the names of 12 of the fallen of the First World War. The dates of the Second World War (1939 – 1945) were later inscribed under, with the name of one local man who fell in the war. The west elevation of the plinth is inscribed ‘AFGHANISTAN’, with the name of one local man who fell in war in 2008. The memorial is bounded by gravel, and eight low timber posts arranged in a rectangular-plan, linked by a metal chain. The memorial stands in a prominent location at the junction of Fakenham Road and Heath 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 at Tittleshall as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 12 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
A memorial fund was established in 1919, and a memorial unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Earl of Leicester in July 1920. The name of one member of the local community who lost his life in the Second World War, and one member of the local community who lost his life in Afghanistan (2008) were later added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Tittleshall War Memorial, unveiled in 1920, and dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World Wars, 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 and C21.
Architectural interest:
* as a modest but well-executed memorial.
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.
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