History in Structure

West Lynn War Memorial

A Grade II Listed Building in King's Lynn, Norfolk

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.7514 / 52°45'4"N

Longitude: 0.387 / 0°23'13"E

OS Eastings: 561200

OS Northings: 319755

OS Grid: TF612197

Mapcode National: GBR N3Q.GNC

Mapcode Global: WHJP6.X3GK

Plus Code: 9F42Q92P+GR

Entry Name: West Lynn War Memorial

Listing Date: 18 March 2019

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1457777

ID on this website: 101457777

Location: St Peter's Church, King's Lynn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Norfolk, PE34

County: Norfolk

District: King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Electoral Ward/Division: South and West Lynn

Parish: Non Civil Parish

Built-Up Area: King's Lynn

Traditional County: Norfolk

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Norfolk

Tagged with: War memorial

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

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.