Summary
First World War memorial, 1920.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920.
DESCRIPTION: Little Plumstead war memorial is located in the churchyard, adjacent to the Grade II*-listed Church of St Gervase and Protase, south of the tower.
It is of rough-hewn grey granite and takes the form of a wheel-head cross, with an inverted sword of sacrifice carved in relief to the cross-head and shaft. The sword has a trefoil design to the pommel and the cross-guard. The shaft rises from a tapering, four-sided plinth surmounting a single-stepped base. The plinth carries the inscription and names in leaded lettering.
The inscription reads, IN MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (13 NAMES)/ “THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE”.
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 Little Plumstead as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Like many Norfolk war memorials, this example at Little Plumstead is situated within the parish churchyard. The memorial was erected in 1920 and commemorates 13 local servicemen who died in the First World War.
Reasons for Listing
Little Plumstead War Memorial, which is situated in St Gervase and St Protase churchyard, 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 First World War.
Architectural interest:
* a well-executed wheel-head cross memorial.
Group value:
* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Gervase and Protase.
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
Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Huddersfield in 50 Buildings