Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Portland stone.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands on the roadside outside and adjacent to the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Thornham Magna.
The memorial comprises a wheel-head cross on a tapering pedestal with a single-stepped square base. It is carved from Portland stone on a cement foundation and stands approximately 3m high.
The main inscription on an inset granite plaque on the east face of the plinth reads: IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN/ OF THE THORNHAMS/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (11 NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.
An additional inscription on a rectangular plaque attached to the south face of the base reads: 1939 – 1945/ (2 NAMES).
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 Thornham Magna as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the villages of Thornham Magna and Thornham Parva who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Messrs J Cooley and Son of Diss, at a cost of around £60, all of which was raised by public subscription. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 14 August 1921 by Colonel Lord Henniker and dedicated by Canon C D Lawrence.
The names of two parishioners who fell during the Second World War were subsequently added to the memorial.
Reasons for Listing
Thornhams War Memorial, which stands on the roadside outside the churchyard of the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Thornham Magna, 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:
* as a simple yet elegant example of a wheel-head cross.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Thornham Magna (Grade II*).
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
Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
England's Post-War Listed Buildings
Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2