Summary
First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions.
MATERIALS: grey granite
DESCRIPTION: Taverham War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Edmund's Church, Taverham Lane, Taverham, Norfolk. It is prominently situated to the left of the church porch on the south side of the building. It comprises a 1.8m tall rough-hewn Latin cross on a plinth with a single-stepped base. There is a dedication on the cross bar of the cross and First World War inscriptions are on the face of the plinth. The Second World War inscriptions are on the granite step forming the base.
The inscription is incised and blacked and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO/ FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAMES).
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 Taverham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Taverham, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected, around 1920. The memorial commemorates seven local servicemen who fell in the First World War and four men who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Taverham War Memorial, which is situated in St Edmund's Churchyard, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple but well-executed granite cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade I-listed Church of St Edmund.
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
Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets