Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: carved from Bath stone.
DESCRIPTION: West Lynn War Memorial is located in the churchyard of St Peter’s Church, St Peter’s Road, West Lynn, Norfolk. It is prominently situated on the north side of the church, by the path leading to the church entrance. It comprises a Bath stone Latin cross of octagonal section, supported by a moulded table collar at the top of the tapering octagonal shaft with moulded foot, standing atop a square plinth and three-tiered octagonal base. Modern (around 2009) slate plaques added to each of the faces of the plinth.
The inscription was originally in incised lettering on the stone but has been replicated on incised plaques and reads: TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF THIS PARISH / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914 – 18 // (NAMES) // 1939 – 45 / (NAMES) //.
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 West Lynn, as permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial at West Lynn, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected around 1920. The memorial commemorates 25 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and four men who fell in the Second World War.
New plaques were affixed to the four faces of the memorial base between April 2008 and May 2010 following a request by the church for public views on how to make the names legible again.
Reasons for Listing
West Lynn War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Peter, 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 conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a well executed decorated Latin cross in limestone.
Group value:
* with the grade II* listed Church of St Peter.
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
Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Old House Care and Repair
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments