Summary

First World War memorial, circa 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

MATERIALS: polished pink granite.

DESCRIPTION: Colney War Memorial is located at the roadside of the Old Watton Road, opposite the Church of St Andrew, Colney, South Norfolk. It comprises a granite wheel-head cross on a plinth with moulded upper section, standing on a single-stepped base of a contrasting stone. The plinth bears the inscriptions in leaded lettering. The memorial is surrounded by a small paved area.

The principal dedicatory inscription is in leaded lettering on the front face of the plinth and reads ERECTED TO THE HONOURED AND/ PERPETUAL MEMORY OF/ (NAMES)/ OF THIS PARISH WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY/ UNTO DEATH IN THE GREAT WAR 1914 – 1918/ NO FEAR WAS THEIRS NOR DOUBT NOR HESITATION/ NO THOUGHT OF DANGER THAT THE DAY MUST BRING/ BUT COURAGE HIGH AND CALM DETERMINATION/ AND FAITH THAT DREADS NOT DEATH OR SUFFERING/ REST WELL DEAR SONS FOR AT THE GREAT AWAKING/ WHEN CHRIST SHALL CALL HIS SOLDIERS TO HIS SIDE/ HIS PROMISE STANDS THERE SHALL BE NO FORSAKING/ OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR HIM AND FIGHTING DIED.

The Second World War dedication is on the rear of the plinth and reads 1939 – 1945/ (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, 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.

Colney memorial, like many Norfolk war memorials, was situated near the parish church, in this case on a grassed area by the side of the Old Watton Road, facing the church. The new Watton Road passes behind the memorial. The memorial was presumably erected circa 1920. The memorial commemorates four local servicemen who fell in the First World War and two men who fell in the Second World War.

Reasons for Listing

Colney War Memorial, which is situated at the roadside of the Old Watton Road, opposite the Church of St Andrew, 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: as a simple but well-executed granite cross;
* Group value: with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Andrew.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478472

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

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings