Summary
First and Second World War memorial. Erected around 1920 with the name of the Fallen of the Second World War added after 1945.
Description
First World War memorial, erected around 1920, with Second World War additions. Portland stone Latin cross on a square plinth with three-stepped base.
MATERIALS: Portland stone
DESCRIPTION: Wormegay War Memorial is located on the village green adjacent to the medieval village cross remains, Castle Road, Wormegay, Norfolk. It is prominently situated in the centre of the village. It comprises a Portland stone Latin cross on an octagonal shaft with “crown” moulded collar, atop a small square plinth with circular-moulded cap, on a three-stepped base. The plinth bears the First World War inscriptions in incised and filled lettering. A separate slab bears the Second World War dedication and is placed on the steps of the base. The whole stands within a square enclosure bounded by metal corner posts connected by three rows of chains.
The inscription reads THIS MONUMENT IS ERECTED/ IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918// (NAMES)// (NAMES)// THEIR NAME/ LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE.// ALSO/ 1939 – 1945/ (NAME).
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw an unprecedented wave of public commemoration with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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 Wormegay, as permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Wormegay War Memorial was presumably erected around 1920. It was sited at the centre of the village, on Castle Road village green, by the medieval cross remains. The memorial commemorates eight local servicemen who fell in the First World War and one man who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Wormegay War Memorial, which stands on the village green, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* as a simple, but well executed Latin cross in Portland stone.
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.
Group value:
* with the scheduled and Grade II-listed village 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
Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)