Swaffham War Memorial

A First World War memorial, erected 1920, with later additions.

MATERIALS Carved from Portland stone with plaques of polished granite.

DESCRIPTION Swaffham War Memorial is prominently located in the Market Place, close to the former Corn Hall (Grade II). It consists of a small decoratively-carved cross surmounted on a tapering, square column with moulded cap and base, set upon a tall pedestal and a square base. A plaque on the north-east face of the pedestal carries the main dedicatory inscription in black painted lettering which reads:

TO THE/ GLORIOUS MEMORY/ OF THE/ 90/ SWAFFHAM MEN/ WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 18/ ERECTED BY/ THEIR FELLOW TOWNSMEN.

The names of the fallen are inscribed on plaques to the other three faces. The front of the column is inscribed: 1939-1945. Below this is a plaque bearing the names of the fallen. Two early-C21 plaques at the base of the memorial carry the inscriptions: IN MEMORY OF/ THE SWAFFHAM/ AND DISTRICT/ FAR EAST PRISONERS OF WAR/ 1941 – 1945/ WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM/ 2011 and IN MEMORY OF/ THE FALLEN OF/ EAST ANGLIA/ 1945 – TO PRESENT DAY/ LEST WE FORGET respectively.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES The memorial is surrounded by four, painted stone posts with chain-link fencing, set within a larger, mid-C20 enclosure bounded by metal railings.