Memorial Details

Memorial Hall Marshall 1914-18 Bethesda Free Church

S140.111

SUNDERLAND

Marshall Memorial Hall, Bethesda Free Church, Tatham Street. On a site adjoining the Chapel.

1914-18

The foundation stone was laid on 6th September, 1928. The hall was dedicated and formally declared open on 13th February 1929.

Memorial Hall 50 feet long x 29 feet wide. The words “Marshall Memorial Hall” are incised into the stonework at the top of the front wall.
There is a bronze plaque inside the hall set in a wood frame with exaggerated corners. There is a single line raised border culminating in squares in the corners. Lettering is raised on a pecked background and burnished using Roman capitals throughout.
The foundation stone is at the right hand side of the door to the hall in Back Tatham Street. Lettering is incised using sans serif capitals. The lettering is eroded but seems to say it was laid in 1928.

Red brick and stone building; bronze plaque.

On plaque:
To the Glory of God
and in loving memory of their son
Lieut. Herbert Myers Marshall
who at the age of 23 years
lost his life in the Great War
this hall and adjoining house
were given by
Septimus and Margaret Marshall.
On foundation stone
This stone laid by
Mrs. Margaret Marshall
6 September 1928

See above

Lieut. Marshall’s parents, Septimus and Margaret Marshall.

Built by Messrs. Robert Hudson and Sons
Designed by Mr. John Hall, architect

1. The memorial was originally the hall and the adjoining house. The house was demolished some years ago, presumably to make room for the church extension.

2. Herbert Myers Marshall was a Dental Surgeon serving on H.M. Hospital Ship "China". The vessel was in Scapa Flow on 10th August 1918 when she was mined.
At least three people were killed, one being H M Marshall. Another who was killed was Louisa Charlotte Chamberlain Res.N.Sister QARNNS.

3. The foundation stone was laid on 6th September, 1928, of the new memorial lecture hall for Bethesda Free Chapel, Tatham Street, Sunderland, in memory of Mr. Herbert Myers Marshall, who lost his life while serving with the Royal Navy during the Great War.
The building, which was to be known as the Marshall Memorial Hall, was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. S. Marshall to the church of which they were lifelong and active members.
The ceremony was conducted by the Pastor, Rev. Alexander Hodge, and there were present Mr. and Mrs. S. Marshall, members of their family, Mrs. Hodge, Mr. John Hall (the Architect). Mr. R. J. Hudson (representing Messrs. R. Hudson & Sons, the builders), and many of the officers and members of the church.
The foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Margaret Marshall with an ivory handled silver trowel, which she afterwards received as a souvenir of the occasion.
The text on the foundation stone, located at the right-hand side of the main door to the Hall in Back Tatham Street, reads:
This stone laid by
Mrs. Margaret Marshall
6 September 1928

The lower part of the engraving is well-worn so that the date is not clear, however church records confirm this to be 1928.
A Service of Dedication for the Marshall Memorial Hall, was held on 13th February 1929 after which the Hall was formally declared open by Mr. Septimus Marshall.
The Hall was built on a site adjoining the Chapel, and the house already upon it (the former Manse) wais included in the gift.
The building was constructed of brick, with the addition of stone dressings to the principal front, which is in Back Tatham Street. The elevation was designed in the Georgian manner, and presents a restrained and reposeful appearance. Repose was attained by using rustic narrow bricks, with a wide mortar joint, with tiles on edge and herring-bone brickwork, being introduced sparingly, so as to combine to assist harmoniously with the colour of the stonework dressings.
The hall is 50 feet in length, by 29 feet in width, and is entered from Back Tatham Street by means of a screened porchway paved with marble mosaic. At the opposite end is a platform, which, besides being a decorative feature, was especially designed for throwing forward the voice of a speaker into the body of the hall. The rear and side walls of the platform and its ceiling, being curved elliptically, sp as to be trumpet shaped, thus assisting materially with the acoustic properties of the building.
Instead of the usual hot water pipes it was decided to heat the interior by means of electricity. Electric tubular heaters were fixed at floor level, and to guard against cold down draughts tubular heaters were also fixed to the upper walls at cornice level. The floor was finished with oak blocks laid upon a concrete foundation.
Messrs. Robert Hudson and Sons were the contractors, and Mr. John Hall the architect for the new building.
There is a memorial bronze plaque to Herbert Myers Marshall, mounted in a wood frame, on the North side of the Hall, just inside the main door.

4. " There is some fairly recent discussion ongoing about the incident involving Herbert Myers Marshall . . . .It seems that 'China' did not hit a mine as has been claimed. The vessel was apparently anchored in a safe position away from the minefield. The later postings state that those killed were in the ship's 'whaler' - perhaps out fishing - when it wandered into a known minefield." (Alan Vickers)

5. Lieut. Marshall is remembered on S140.017 and S140.141

Photos: Alan Vickers

Alan Vickers

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

 

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