Summary

First World War memorial, circa 1920.

Description

MATERIALS: grey granite.

DESCRIPTION: Bacton War Memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of St Andrew, Church Lane, Bacton, Norfolk. It comprises a wheel-head cross on a tapering plinth with a single-stepped granite base. It has a cast bronze plaque to the front of the plinth bearing the principal inscription and names in relief.

The inscription reads IN PROUD AND LOVING/ MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ 1914 – 1918.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

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, both as a result of the huge impact the loss of three quarters of a million British lives had on communities and 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.

Bacton memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated within the churchyard. The memorial was presumably erected circa 1920. The memorial commemorates 12 local servicemen who fell in the First World War. Their names also appear on a wooden memorial within the Church of St Andrew, along with the names of seven men who fell in the Second World War. It appears that the Second World War names were not added to the cross, so it has been little changed since its erection.

Reasons for Listing

Bacton War Memorial, which is situated in St Andrew’s 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 this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the First World War;
* Design: as a simple but well-executed granite cross;
* Group value: with the Church of St Andrew (Grade II*) and the Vicarage (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478458

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

• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas