Summary
First World War memorial cross, unveiled 1920.
Description
The grey granite war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*-listed). It is prominently situated by the churchyard path. It comprises a tall rough-hewn wheel-head cross with a sword of sacrifice carved on the front face. The cross stands on a tapering pedestal with single-stepped base below. The cross shaft and pedestal bear the inscriptions in applied metal lettering.
The principal dedicatory inscription begins on the front face of the cross shaft, reading TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN HONOURED/ MEMORY OF and continues below on the pedestal THE MEN OF THIS PARISH/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918./ (3 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 Witton as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by three members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was unveiled on Sunday 31 October, 1920 and dedicated by the Reverend J Blackbourne CMG (Rector of Acle).
Reasons for Listing
Witton War Memorial Cross, which stands in the 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 tall wheel-head cross in granite, in the Celtic style;
* unusually, the memorial has not been adapted for Second World War commemoration, and thus retains its original design intent.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Margaret (Grade II*-listed).
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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