Summary
First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions.
Description
First World War memorial, erected around 1920.
MATERIALS: limestone and brick.
DESCRIPTION: Sloley War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Bartholomew Church, Anchor Street, Sloley, Norfolk. It is prominently situated just inside the churchyard entrance from the driveway, by the path leading to the church. It comprises a wheel-head cross on a chamfered shaft with moulded foot, surmounting a four-sided plinth with moulded upper and moulded foot, atop a three-tiered octagonal base; the uppermost step being of stone, the lower two a combination of stone and brick, with stone capping. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised lettering.
The inscription reads: TO THE/ GLORY/ OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN/ OF SLOLEY/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919// (NAMES)/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).
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 Sloley as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Sloley, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected, around 1920. The memorial commemorates 11 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and one man who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Sloley War Memorial, which is situated in St Bartholomew 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 accomplished and well-executed limestone wheel-head cross.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Bartholomew.
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
Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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