Summary
First World War memorial, approximately 1920 with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, approximately 1920.
MATERIALS: grey granite.
DESCRIPTION: Wroxham War Memorial is located at the roadside of Norwich Road (A1151) at the junction with Church Lane, Wroxham, Norfolk. It is prominently situated facing the corner of Church Lane and the Norwich Road. It comprises a small floriated cross with Celtic-inspired strap work incised on the face atop a shaft. The top half of the shaft also features strap work, and the inscription is incised on the lower half of the shaft. It stands on an elegant two-tiered, moulded foot atop a simple square base.
The inscription is incised and painted and reads IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF / THE GLORIOUS DEAD / WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES / AT SEA, ON LAND AND IN THE AIR / FIGHTING FOR / GOD, KING AND EMPIRE, / 1914 – 1918 / (NAMES) / 1939 – 1945 / (NAMES).
A further inscription on the base reads THIS CROSS IS GIVEN TO THE VILLAGE OF WROXHAM IN LOVING MEMORY OF LT ARTHUR WILLIAM PASSMORE / WHO FELL IN ACTION NEAR HULLOCH, FRANCE APRIL 5TH 1916.
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 Wroxham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Wroxham’s war memorial originated as a memorial to a single casualty from Wroxham, but was given to Wroxham as a memorial to all those who died who originated from the parish. The memorial was presumably erected in approximately 1920. The memorial commemorates 17 local servicemen who fell in the First World War and eight men who fell in the Second World War.
Reasons for Listing
Wroxham War Memorial, which is situated at the roadside of Norwich Road (A1151) at the junction with Church Lane, 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 an elegant and well-executed granite cross with decorative incised strap work.
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.
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