Summary
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
Description
First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.
MATERIALS: Cornish granite.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial stands in a prominent position beside the entrance to the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret of Antioch (Grade I).
The memorial comprises a plain wheel-head cross on a tapering rough-hewn plinth and single-stepped base. On the south face of the cross is a relief-carved Sword of Sacrifice. The memorial is carved from grey Cornish granite and stands approximately 2.7m high. A small rectangular granite plaque bearing the name of one parishioner who died during the Second World War has been added to the south face of the plinth.
The main inscription in leaded lettering on the south face of the plinth reads:
1914 – 1918/ TO THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN MEMORY OF/ (13 NAMES).
An additional inscription in leaded lettering on a small rectangular granite plaque attached to the south face of the plinth reads: 1939 – 1945/ TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF/ (1 NAME).
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 Thrandeston as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. It was erected by Messrs G Maile and Son (builders) at a cost of around £113, and paid for by public subscription. The memorial was dedicated on Sunday 1 February 1920 by Mr F W French.
A small rectangular plaque bearing the name of one parishioner who fell during the Second World War was added to the memorial and dedicated by the rector, Reverend W W Sutton, on Sunday 16 November 1947.
Reasons for Listing
Thrandeston War Memorial, which stands in a prominent position beside the entrance to the churchyard of the Church of St Margaret, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* as a well-executed and evocative example of a wheel-head cross of Cornish granite.
Group value:
* with the Church of St Margaret (Grade I) and the three Blakely monuments to the north of the church (Grade II).
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
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
[(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)