Summary
First World War memorial, approximately 1920.
Description
First World War memorial, approximately 1920.
MATERIALS: Portland stone
DESCRIPTION: Tivetshall St Margaret War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Tivetshall St Margaret. It is prominently situated in the south-east corner of the churchyard on rising ground and offering a backdrop of the rolling landscape. It is approximately 2.5m tall and comprises a floriated cross supported by a four-sided pedestal with deeply moulded cornice including carved motifs of crossed flags, on a two-tiered base. The pedestal bears the inscriptions in incised lettering. The whole stands on a foundation of slabs.
The inscription reads IN MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ TIVETSHALL ST MARGARET/ WHO LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN/ THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY/ DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS./ R.I.P.
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 in around 1920 in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, Tivetshall St Margaret, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by ten local servicemen who fell in the First World War.
Reasons for Listing
Tivetshall St Margaret War Memorial, erected around 1920, 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 First World War.
Architectural interest:
* as a simple but well-executed Portland stone cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Margaret.
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
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)