NHER 26202 (Monument record) - War Memorial Garden Terrace, St Peter's Street

World War One memorial with World War Two additions
Location: War Memorial and War Memorial Garden Terrace, St Peter’s Street, Norwich
Type: Wall
Description: The memorial is in the form of a low wall with a tomb chest placed on top of the wall in the centre. The chest is topped with a wreath and decorated with the city arms supported by two angels. Below the chest is a Stone of Remembrance. Pedestals are at each end of the wall with gilt bronze flambeaux on top. The inscriptions are placed on the central front face of the wall.
The memorial is placed in the War Memorial Garden Terrace of 1938. The garden terrace is a sloping terraced site parallel to City Hall. Eight lampposts with bell lights, one replaced in the later C20, are placed on either side of the memorial in regular paces. There is a metal railing at the market side of the memorial. Two flagpoles with bronze bases showing Peace and Plenty are placed at the corners.
Proposed: Lord Mayor Charles Bignold
Designed By: Edwin Lutyens
Constructed/Sculpted By: Edwin Lutyens
Cost: £2,700
Unveiled: 9 October 1927
Inscription: OUR GLORIOUS DEAD/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE/ REMEMBERING ALSO ALL OTHERS OF THIS CITY WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY
1914/ 1919, with laurel swag beneath
1939/ 1945, with laurel swag beneath
Information from Listing Description (S7)
See War Memorials On-line (S8) for images and the War Memorials Register (S9) for images, names and additional details.
P. Beers (HES), 17 March 2020. Amended A. Henderson (HES), 6 December 2024.

October 1938. Opening of Memorial Gardens.
The memorial was moved from the east side of the Guildhall to a site above the Market Place as part of the new Memorial Garden Terrace constructed by C. H. James and S. R. Pierce. The gardens were opened by King George IV on 29 October 1938.
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S7) for the current listing details and further details.
A. Henderson (HES), 6 December 2024.

September 1983. Listed. Grade II.
Details as summarized above.
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S7) for the current listing details.
See also War Memorials On-line (S8) and War Memorials Register (S9).
A. Henderson (HES), 6 December 2024.

2004. Restoration.
The Memorial Garden Terrace was closed for restoration following structural problems. It was reopened on 10 March 2011. The memorial was repositioned to face City Hall, the arms re-emblazoned, and the flambeaux gilding restored.
A. Henderson (HES), 6 December 2024.

August 2006. Watching Brief. No Contexts used.
Monitoring of works affecting ground levels adjacent to the Norwich Memorial Gardens.
No archaeologically-significant features or deposits recorded and no finds recovered.
See report (S1) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited at Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.131).
Previously recorded as NHER 45491.
J. Allen (NLA) 1 March 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 21 June 2019.

July-November 2008. Architectural Survey and Watching Brief.
A measured CAD survey was undertaken based on rectified photographs. Each element of the monument and gardens was then numbered and its condition recorded. The memorial gardens are primarily of Clipsham stone, with steps and paving of York stone. The northern planting bed retaining wall is of brick with a stone-effect Portland cement render.
A watching brief was undertaken during geotechnical investigations below the concrete store under the gardens. This revealed that all archaeological remains below this structure were destroyed during its construction.
See report (S2) for further information. See also (S3). The results of this work are summarised in (S6).
An archive associated with this work has been deposited at Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2023.234).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 9 June 2009. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 27 April 2024.

June 2008.
Plans for repair and redesign of the memorial gardens include strengthening the building underneath, installing a ramp raising the memorial to street level, and installing a new sculpture designed by Paul de Monchaux.
See (S4) for further details.
H. White (NLA), 23 September 2009.

October 2009 and February-March 2010. Watching Brief.
The watching brief indicated that truncation had occurred during previous building works associated with when the market was re-ordered and City Hall was constructed in the first half of the 19th century. No finds or features of archaeological significance survived in the areas investigated.
See report (S5) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited at Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2025.106).
S. Howard (NLA), 18 August 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 24 August 2025.