Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920.
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION: Rollesby War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St George’s Church, Fleggburgh Road, Rollesby, Norfolk. It is prominently situated at the north-eastern corner of the churchyard, at the entrance to the churchyard from the junction of Fleggburgh Road and Heath Road. It comprises a tall 4.2m high Portland stone Latin cross with octagonal sides, atop an octagonal shaft with moulded collar and foot, standing on a four-sided plinth with similarly moulded foot, atop a five-tiered circular stepped base that is 2.7m in diameter at the bottom. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering.
The inscription reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ FROM ROLLESBY/ 1914 – 1918.
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 26/02/2020
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 Rollesby as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Rollesby, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial commemorates 13 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and six men who fell in the Second World War.
The memorial was designed by Henry Walter Sarel of London, architect son of the late General Sarel of Rollesby Hall. It was unveiled by Mrs Brownsword, late of Rollesby Hall on 31 October 1920.
Reasons for Listing
Rollesby War Memorial, which is situated in St George’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:
* an elegant and well-executed Portland stone cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St George, the Grade II-listed Old Rectory and the Grade II-listed Old World Cottages.
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
London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)