Summary
First World War memorial granite obelisk, unveiled 1920, with later Second World War additions.
Description
The memorial is located in the churchyard extension of the Church of All Saints (Grade I-listed), standing at the western end of the path leading from the churchyard entrance. It comprises a rough-hewn grey granite obelisk on a plinth, square on plan, with single step below. A small polished granite plaque* has been added at the foot of the memorial, inclined on a small block*.
The dedicatory inscription begins on the front face of the obelisk, reading 1914/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE/ 1918. It continues on the plinth below, IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF NECTON/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (NAMES)/ 1939-1945/ (NAMES). The inscription on the plaque in front of the foot of the memorial reads NECTON/ ROYAL BRITISH LEGION/ 2000/ WE WILL REMEMBER/ THEM.
* Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.
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 Necton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 22 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on 1 February 1920. The name of one man who died in the Second World War was added after that conflict. In 2000 a new plaque was added to the foot of the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Necton War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard extension, 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 obelisk in granite.
Group value:
* with the Church of All Saints (Grade I), the Table Tomb approximately 14 metres south of the aisle of the Church Of All Saints (Grade II*), and the Grade II-listed K6 Telephone Kiosk on the corner of Tuns Road.
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
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings