Summary

First World War memorial, unveiled 16 May 1920.

Description

First World War memorial, 1920.

MATERIALS: grey granite, Portland stone base

DESCRIPTION: Hepworth war memorial is located in the churchyard adjacent to the entrance, to the north of the Church of St Peter (Grade II*-listed).

It is of grey granite and takes the form of a plain Latin cross set in a rough-hewn, rock-like plinth. This surmounts a single-stepped square base of Portland stone.

The main inscription and names are in leaded lettering on a smooth, inset panel on the west face of the plinth, IN GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE MEN/ WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR./ (13 NAMES)/ 1914-1918.

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 Hepworth as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 13 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was erected by Messrs H L Perfitt (stonemasons) of Diss. It was unveiled on 16 May 1920 by Brigadier-General Lord Playfair and dedicated by the rector, Reverend C E Green.

Reasons for Listing

Hepworth War Memorial, which is situated in St Peter’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.

Architectural interest:

* a well-executed Latin cross memorial.

Group value:

* with the Grade II*-listed Church of St Peter.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66479462

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)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)