Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial granite cross, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: grey granite.
This memorial cross stands in the churchyard of Binham Priory (Church of St Mary, Grade I listed). It is prominently situated to the left of the churchyard path leading from the Gatehouse (Grade I) to the church, and the West Front is the backdrop to the memorial cross.
The memorial comprises a rough-hewn wheel-head cross, abut 2.5m tall, with an inset dedicatory inscription at the base of the shaft. The cross stands on a tapering plinth and single square base raised on a simple concrete foundation.
INSCRIPTION: the inscription, in leaded lettering, reads: TO THE/ GLORY OF/ GOD and continues on a granite tablet fixed to the front face of the plinth: AND IN HONOURED MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 18/ (11 NAMES)/ ALSO/ 1939 - 45/ (5 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 Binham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 11 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of five men who died in that conflict were added to the cross.
Reasons for Listing
Binham War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of Binham Priory, 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:
* a simple granite wheel-head cross with a strong visual association with Binham Priory, contrasting dramatically with the red brick of the West Front.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Mary and the Gatehouse at Binham Priory (both Grade I listed), with the scheduled area of Binham Priory (which it is not within, but which surrounds the churchyard), and with Abbey Farm Barn (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
London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
Old House Care and Repair
Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)