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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Thorpe Hamlet

    Face 1 Thorpe Hamlet war memorial

    Source: Copyright Julie Weir

    1/4

    Current Location

    On the east side of the car park, St Matthew's Church, Telegraph Lane West, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 4JJ, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TG 24351 08868

    Denomination

    Church of England

    View location on Google Maps

    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-54754

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    Type of Memorial
    Cross
    WMR Reference Number
    54754
    Description
    A stone and marble wheel-head cross (with ornate foliate lopes attached to the four quarters of the wheel) on a tapering octagonal shaft with moulded collar and foot, atop a four-sided plinth with chamfered corners and edges, on a three-tiered base (the lower tier being a paved brick platform). The inscription on the plinth is in incised black lettering.
    Inscription
    Face 1: 1914 - 1919/ YOU LIVE FOR ENGLAND/ WE FOR ENGLAND DIED/ IN THANKSGIVING FOR THESE AND ALL MEN AND WOMEN/ OF THORPE HAMLET WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES/ IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY/ Face 2: (Names)/ Face 3: (Names)/ Face4: (Names)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    128
    Died
    128
    Information shown
    Initials, surname.
    Order of names
    Alphabetical by surname.
    Maintenance History
    29/5/2018: The memorial was Grade II Listed by Historic England (List Number 1454118).// Early 2003: The memorial was vandalised; having been restored later that year, it was re-dedicated in November 2003.// 1982: The 'new' St Matthew's Church opened in Telegraph Lane West (supplanting the original Victorian Church); the memorial was consequently moved to its current site, and erected on a paved brick platform.// 1921: The memorial was erected in the grounds of St Matthew's Church, St Matthew's Lane, Thorpe Hamlet, where it was unveiled on the 25 September 1921.

    Ceremonies

    Dedicated

    25/9/1921

    The memorial was dedicated on its original site.

    Rededicated

    11 November 2003

    Local Clergy/Dignitaries attended the rededication of the memorial (following its restoration).

    Previous Location(s)

    In the Churchyard, St Matthew's Church (old church), St Matthew's Road, Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1SP, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TG 24013 08638

    Year of move

    c1982

    Reason for move

    This Victorian church (built 1851) was supplanted by the newly-built St Matthew's Church in 1982; the War Memorial was therefore moved from its original site to the newly-built church in Telegraph Lane West. (The old Church building was subsequently converted to offices).

    Components

    Cross

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: List Number 1454118

    Grade II Listed 29/5/2018

    Pedestal

    Made from: Stone


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: List Number 1454118

    Grade II Listed on 29/5/2018

    Base

    Made from: Marble, Stone, Brick


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: List Number 1454118

    Grade II listed 29/5/2018.

    Report a Concern

    War Memorials Trust Reference Number
    173040

    To report a concern about the condition of this memorial, visit War Memorial Trust.

    Help update these details if the condition is wrongWar Memorials Register Logo
    • Yarmouth Independent, Saturday 14 May 1921, page 2, reported: 'At a sitting of the Consistory Court on Saturday citations were ordered to issue in respect to applications to erect war memorials at Melton Constable, Guist, Costessey, Great Yarmouth (St. Peter), Paston, Upton, Hethel, and Thorpe Hamlet...' https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001943/19210514/053/0002
    • Other website http://www.stmatthewschurch.co.uk
    • Navy News, November 2003, page 29: Royal Naval Association News; 'Branch sees restored memorial. SOME 40 members from Norwich branch formed up around the restored war memorial at St Matthews Church, Thorpe Hamlet in Norwich after their annual rededication service. The service was conducted by their chaplains, S/Ms Cliff Self, Canon Graham Drake, Vicar of St Matthews, and Rev Andrew Beane, curate of the church. Standard bearer John Kett was escorted by S/Ms Ray Self and Colin Ayden, who formed the Colour Party. President Jim Bowles gave the Reading, and Vice President Mike Mizzen and Vice Chairman Peter Cook led the Act of Remembrance. The war memorial has recently been restored after it was vandalised earlier this year, and the branch - which celebrates its Silver Jubilee next year - made a donation towards the repairs'. https://archive.org/details/NavyNews2003Collection/200311/page/n28/mode/2up
    • Historic England, Grade II Listing on 29/5/2018: 'Reasons for Designation; The war memorial, situated in the driveway to St Matthew’s Church at Thorpe Hamlet, Norfolk 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: * as an elegant and well-executed example of a wheel-headed cross, forming an appropriately dignified and sombre memorial. Group Value: * the memorial is located a short distance from the site of St Leonard’s Priory, a scheduled monument ( List Entry Number 1002895). History: The aftermath of the First World War saw the single biggest wave of public commemoration ever experienced in England, with tens of thousands of memorials erected across the country, both as a result of the huge impact of the loss of three quarters of a million lives had on communities throughout the nation, 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. One such memorial was erected within the churchyard of St Matthew's Church at Thorpe Hamlet in 1921 to commemorate the 128 servicemen from the area who lost their lives in the conflict. The memorial was unveiled on the 25 September 1921, and stood in that position ( map reference TG 24013 08638) until it was relocated in its present position near the new St Matthew's Church in Telegraph Lane, built to replace the original church of 1851. The new church opened c.1982 and it is thought that the relocation of the memorial dates to that time. The memorial was later vandalised, and then restored and re-dedicated in November 2003'. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1454118?section=official-list-entry
    • Norfolk Heritage Explorer https://www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk/record-details?MNF74417-World-War-One-memorial-Thorpe-Hamlet-Norwich
    • https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/173040
    • Some biographical details of the casualties are at https://www.flickr.com/photos/43688219@N00/6204327896/in/photolist-asd9pv-asd9CF-asfNfd-asfNjS-asd9GF-asfNwC