World War I Memorial Including Gate and Gate Piers

World War I Memorial Including Gate and Gate Piers

This war memorial, designed by architect Francis R B Haward of the local firm Olley and Haward, was erected in 1922 and stands in St George's Park, a municipal park opened in 1866. The memorial was unveiled by H.R.H. Prince Henry on 7th January 1922 and dedicated by the Bishop of Norwich. It was funded by public subscription and commemorates 1,472 men from the Borough of Great Yarmouth who lost their lives during World War I.

The memorial is constructed of large blocks of white granite, with some repairs in pink granite, mostly visible in the steps to the central monument. Damage sustained during World War II, visible on the northern and western faces, remains unrepaired as part of the monument's historic record.

The structure stands on a low grass-covered mound set within an octagonal area of paving. The western side contains the original entrance, consisting of a short flight of steps flanked by two granite walls with granite terminal piers and a pair of bronze gates at the lower end. The gates are decorated with a central wreath, embossed floral motifs in each corner, and several roundels along the edges. The northern, eastern and southern sides were originally bordered by lawn, but steps have subsequently been added at these three cardinal points, with a circular metal-fenced path now surrounding the base of the mound.

The memorial itself comprises four octagonal steps surmounted by a hollow moulded plinth. This carries a large square base with advanced corner facets, supporting a tall octagonal column with deep corner chamfers. The base is decorated with a frieze in Celtic-style interlocking motifs. A moulded cornice with Celtic-style cable design separates the capstone from the column. Each of the four faces of the column displays a cross of sacrifice in high relief, featuring a bronze sword on prominent crosses with simple Celtic motif borders in stone. Bronze wreaths decorate each face of the capstone. The main faces and corner facets contain a total of twenty-four vertical bronze panels inscribed with the names of the 1,472 fallen men and a dedication.

The dedication plaque on the western side of the base reads: "THIS MEMORIAL / ERECTED BY PUBLIC / SUBSCRIPTION WAS / UNVEILED BY / H.R.H., THE PRINCE / HENRY / AND DEDICATED BY / THE LORD BISHOP / OF NORWICH ON THE / 7TH JANUARY 1922 / TO PERPETUATE THE / MEMORY OF THE MEN / OF THIS BOROUGH WHO / LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES / FOR KING & COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR"

The column base bears four inscriptions at cardinal points: West side: "1914 - 1918 / THEY GAVE THEIR ALL" North side: "1914 - 1918 / FOR GOD KING AND RIGHT" East side: "1914 - 1918 / THEY HEARD THEIR COUNTRY'S CALL" South side: "1914 - 1918 / THESE NOBLY PLAYED THEIR PART"

Except for minor World War II damage and a few replacement stones, the monument remains intact. It occupies a prominent position within St George's Park and has group value with the Grade II listed World War II memorial directly to its west, executed in a similar style. The memorial is visible from several listed buildings surrounding the park and the scheduled town walls.