History in Structure

Witton War Memorial Cross

A Grade II Listed Building in Postwick with Witton, Norfolk

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.6359 / 52°38'9"N

Longitude: 1.4185 / 1°25'6"E

OS Eastings: 631409

OS Northings: 309731

OS Grid: TG314097

Mapcode National: GBR WHQ.RFZ

Mapcode Global: WHMTP.R0NJ

Plus Code: 9F43JCP9+9C

Entry Name: Witton War Memorial Cross

Listing Date: 24 July 2018

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1457332

ID on this website: 101457332

Location: St Margaret's Church, Witton, Broadland, Norfolk, NR13

County: Norfolk

District: Broadland

Civil Parish: Postwick with Witton

Traditional County: Norfolk

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Norfolk

Tagged with: War memorial

Summary


First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920.

Description


The grey granite war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*-listed). It is prominently situated by the churchyard path. It comprises a tall rough-hewn wheel-head cross with a sword of sacrifice carved on the front face. The cross stands on a tapering pedestal with single-stepped base below. The cross shaft and pedestal bear the inscriptions in applied metal lettering.

The principal dedicatory inscription begins on the front face of the cross shaft, reading TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN HONOURED/ MEMORY OF and continues below on the pedestal THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ (3 NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.

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 Witton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by three members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 31 October, 1920 and dedicated by the Reverend J Blackbourne CMG (Rector of Acle).

Reasons for Listing


Witton War Memorial Cross, which stands in the 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 the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the First World War.

Architectural interest:

* a tall wheel-head cross in granite, in the Celtic style;
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.

Group value:

* with the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*-listed).

External Links

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