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Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial

Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial, Marshland St James Cemetery, Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, Norfolk, PE14 8EP

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War. Erected in the 1920s. Architect unknown. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1444678
Date first listed:: 04-Apr-2017
List Entry Name:: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial, Marshland St James Cemetery, Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, Norfolk, PE14 8EP

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1444678
Date first listed:: 04-Apr-2017
List Entry Name:: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial
Statutory Address 1:: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial, Marshland St James Cemetery, Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, Norfolk, PE14 8EP

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial, Marshland St James Cemetery, Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, Norfolk, PE14 8EP

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Norfolk
District:: King's Lynn and West Norfolk (District Authority)
Parish:: Marshland St. James
National Grid Reference:: TF5203309329

Summary

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War. Erected in the 1920s. Architect unknown.

Reasons for Designation

Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial, which stands at the entrance to Marshland St James cemetery, 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 sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20; * Design: a simple Latin cross on a tapering four-sided plinth.

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 Marshland St James in the 1920s as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the Marshland Smeeth and Fen area who lost their lives in the First World War.

Details

First World War memorial, with later additions for the Second World War. Erected in the 1920s. Architect unknown.

MATERIALS: Carved from grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Marshland Smeeth and Fen War Memorial is prominently situated at the entrance to the cemetery in Marshland St James and facing the road. It comprises a polished grey granite Latin cross on a tapering four-sided plinth with granite foot, and four-stepped concrete base below. This is bounded by concrete posts connected by chains. The plinth bears the inscriptions in incised and painted lettering.

The inscription on the western face reads ERECTED BY THE / INHABITANTS OF / MARSHLAND SMEETH & FEN / IN GRATEFUL MEMORY / OF THEIR FRIENDS WHO LAID DOWN / THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR / 1914-1918 / (NAMES) // ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD / AND MAY LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM / LEST WE FORGET. The northern face is inscribed ALSO / IN MEMORY OF THE / MEN OF / MARSHLAND ST JAMES / (NAMES) / WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES / IN THE WORLD WAR / 1939 – 1945

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

Sources

Websites
Information on war memorials from the Roll of Honour database, accessed 2 February 2017 from http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Norfolk/MarshlandSmeethMemorial.html
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253708
War Memorials Register, accessed 6 June 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/40404

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.