Summary
First World War granite memorial cross, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The war memorial stands in a triangular gravelled area to the eastern end of the green in the junction of Cromer Road, North Road, and Station Street. It comprises a dressed grey granite wheel-head cross standing on a pedestal. The pedestal has a moulded cap and two-stage foot, and chamfered corners, and stands on an octagonal base.
The pedestal bears the inscriptions in applied metal lettering. The principal dedicatory inscription to the front face of the pedestal reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF/ THOSE SAILORS AND SOLDIERS/ OF/ ORMESBY ST MARGARET/ ORMESBY ST MICHAEL/ SCRATBY AND CALIFORNIA/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ AND/ 1939 – 1945. The commemorated First World War names are listed on the other faces, whilst the Second World War casualty names are recorded on the chamfered faces of the upper stage of the pedestal foot.
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 Ormesby St Margaret as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community, including the neighbouring villages, who lost their lives in the First World War. It commemorates 35 local servicemen who died in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 17 men who died in that conflict were added.
Reasons for Listing
The war memorial cross at Ormesby St Margaret 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 granite wheel-head cross.
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
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)