Summary
First World War memorial granite cross, unveiled 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
The war memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Catherine (Grade I-listed), overlooking Stocks Hill and opposite Grade II-listed buildings including Church View and the Saddlers Shop. It comprises a polished red granite wheel-head cross riding from a tapering plinth that stands on a single-stepped red granite base. The whole is supported by a three-stepped concrete base. The plinth bears the inscriptions.
The principal dedicatory inscription reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN PROUD AND TENDER MEMORY OF/ (11 NAMES)/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY/ 1914 – 1918. The later Second World War inscription to one side of the plinth reads 1939 – 1945/ (4 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 Ludham as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 11 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Various proposals for a suitable memorial, including a lych gate, recreation ground, or almshouses, were made at a public meeting held on 27 March 1919. These were rejected in favour of a memorial cross. Designed and supplied by FJ Perfitt of Stalham, the cross was unveiled on 25 January 1920 by William Wright. Following the Second World War the names of four men who died in that conflict were added. The cross was moved into the churchyard during a road-widening scheme.
Reasons for Listing
Ludham 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 conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a simple yet poignant granite cross, in the Celtic style.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Catherine (Grade I) and nearby Grade II-listed buildings including Church View and Saddlers Shop with cottage adjoining to West.
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
Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)