Holkham War Memorial

First World War memorial, 1920, with Second World War additions.

MATERIALS: Aberdeen granite, bronze.

DESCRIPTION: Holkham war memorial is located on a small mound within an enclosed grassed area on the Holkham Hall estate. It is adjacent to the Grade II-listed buildings The Infants School, The School and Nos 25 and 26 Park Road.

It takes the form of a tall, polished Aberdeen granite obelisk which has a band of Greek Key design, carved in relief, around its base. Bronze wreaths are affixed directly above the band to each face of obelisk. The obelisk rises from a four-sided plinth of rough-hewn granite, which surmounts a three-stepped, square base. The inscriptions and names are on bronze panels affixed to the plinth and upper step of the base.

The principal inscription is to the bronze panel on the west face of the plinth and reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE IMMORTAL MEMORY OF/ ALL THOSE FROM/ HOLKHAM/ WHO SERVED IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 - 1919/ SOME FELL IN BATTLE/ AND SOME DIED OF WOUNDS AND SICKNESS/ BUT ALL NOBLY DID THEIR DUTY/ TO THEIR KING AND COUNTRY/ THIS OBELISK WAS ERECTED BY/ THOMAS WILLIAM, 3RD EARL OF LEICESTER. The 19 names related to the First World War are listed on bronze plaques to the remaining three sides of the plinth; under each name is the regiment in which they served, details of how they died and the date.

Affixed to the west face of the upper step of the base is a bronze plaque with the words WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945. The two casualties from this conflict are listed on separate bronze plaques to the north and south faces of the upper step of the base, in a similar style to the First World War names.