Ludham War Memorial Cross, Ludham, Norfolk

Entry Name: Ludham War Memorial Cross

Listing Date: 3 April 2018

Grade: II

Source: Historic England

Source ID: 1453781

ID on this website: 101453781

Location: St Catherines Church, Ludham, North Norfolk, NR29

County: Norfolk

District: North Norfolk

Civil Parish: Ludham

Built-Up Area: Ludham

Traditional County: Norfolk

Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Norfolk

Tagged with: War memorial

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.