Memorial Details
Memorial
Obelisk 1914-18 1939-45 Bowes Museum
Reference
B135.25
Place
BARNARD CASTLE
Original Location
Bowes Museum grounds DL12 8NP
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Unveiled 13th October 1923 by Lord Barnard, dedicated by Rev. H.W. Bircham, M.A., Vicar of Barnard Castle.
Memorial Description
Obelisk, total height 21 feet, slim, on tapering pedestal resting on stone base with five steps. The names for 1914-18 are of lead in two columns on all four faces of the stone pedestal, each below a wreath raised in half relief.
Resting against the steps is a stone plaque bearing the dedication and names in three columns for 1939-45. Lettering is incised and gilded.
Resting against the steps is a stone plaque bearing the dedication and names in three columns for 1939-45. Lettering is incised and gilded.
Materials used
a. “Mountain limestone”
b. Polished dark grey granite.
b. Polished dark grey granite.
Inscription
a. Pro Patria / 1914-1919 / In grateful remembrance of the men of / Barnard Castle / of all ranks who fell in the Great War / For God and King and Right / they gave their all.
b. In memory of those who fell / in the Second World War / 1939-1945.
They died that we might live.
b. In memory of those who fell / in the Second World War / 1939-1945.
They died that we might live.
Names
Who commissioned
Barnard Castle Council War Memorial Committee, Chairman Cllr. C.T. Singer
Cost
£400
How money was raised
House to house collection, public subscription
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
a. C. Parkin & Son of Crosby Ravensworth, Penrith
Ownership and maintenance
Handed to the Museum Trustees at the unveiling ceremony and accepted by Lord Gainford as Chairman of the Trust.
Now looked after by Barnard Castle Town Council
Now looked after by Barnard Castle Town Council
Notes
1. Initial meetings on the Town Memorial voted for a site in the main street outside the Witham Hall, but the Urban Council objected that traffic flow would be obstructed. Two weeks after the Durham Light Infantry memorial had been unveiled in the Museum Park, a letter to the Teesdale Mercury from Owen Scott, Curator of Bowes Museum, swung the argument in favour of the present site. This reminded readers of the need for a quiet and peaceful site where mourners could go to remember their loved ones: the site outside Witham Hall would be noisy with traffic and especially on market days and when the fair came to town.
2. On 3 August 1921 the Teesdale Mercury headline was ‘Memorial Site Settled: Unanimous Vote for the Museum Park’
3. The initial response for funding for the World War 1 memorial raised only £300, so a further request for donations was published on 16 November 1921. On 23 November 1921, Arthur Borrowdale, an ‘Architectural Sculptor’ of Worksop, formerly of Barnard Castle, wrote a letter offering to make a 15 feet tall monument of a life-size soldier mounted on a pedestal, in Canora marble, for £300. This offer was obviously not pursued.
4. The first wreath was placed by the Chairman of Barnard Castle Council, the second by Mrs. Smith, a widow of Bridgegate, who lost 5 of her 6 sons.
5. The possibility of having the lettering regilded on the granite plaque is being explored. A donation has been offered towards the costs by a local businessman and War Memorials Trust.
6. It was originally thought that there would be 230 names for inclusion, but only 121 were submitted.
7. Sites suggested included: Bowes Museum Park (6 votes); Galgate Enclosure (no votes); Galgate Fountain (1); Market Place (27); “Amen Corner (29)
8. Among suggestions for the memorial were: monument or plaque with surplus funds being given to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Club; a new town clock; cottage hospital; half a dozen alms for old age pensioners.
2. On 3 August 1921 the Teesdale Mercury headline was ‘Memorial Site Settled: Unanimous Vote for the Museum Park’
3. The initial response for funding for the World War 1 memorial raised only £300, so a further request for donations was published on 16 November 1921. On 23 November 1921, Arthur Borrowdale, an ‘Architectural Sculptor’ of Worksop, formerly of Barnard Castle, wrote a letter offering to make a 15 feet tall monument of a life-size soldier mounted on a pedestal, in Canora marble, for £300. This offer was obviously not pursued.
4. The first wreath was placed by the Chairman of Barnard Castle Council, the second by Mrs. Smith, a widow of Bridgegate, who lost 5 of her 6 sons.
5. The possibility of having the lettering regilded on the granite plaque is being explored. A donation has been offered towards the costs by a local businessman and War Memorials Trust.
6. It was originally thought that there would be 230 names for inclusion, but only 121 were submitted.
7. Sites suggested included: Bowes Museum Park (6 votes); Galgate Enclosure (no votes); Galgate Fountain (1); Market Place (27); “Amen Corner (29)
8. Among suggestions for the memorial were: monument or plaque with surplus funds being given to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Club; a new town clock; cottage hospital; half a dozen alms for old age pensioners.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Simon Raine; Howard Jemmeson; Lonely Tower; old postcard: Tony Harding
Teesdale Mercury: 23/02/1921; 09/03/1921; 20/07/1921; 27/07/1921; 03/08/1921; 16/11/1921; 23/11/1921; 17/10/1923
Illustrated Chronicle 16/10/1923 carries photo of unveiling.
Northern Echo 17/06/1922 reports proposals; 15/10/1923 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 20/10/1923 has photo of unveiling.
Darlington & Stockton Times 27/01/1923 reports progress; 20/10/1923 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 03/06/1923 reports unveiling.
Beamish Museum Copy of Order of Service Ref: 1961.52al 1.6315
Durham County Council ref: 505/6/2/157
The Barney Crier No.11, Winter 2009, Town Council Newsletter, reports proposed restoration.
Teesdale Mercury: 23/02/1921; 09/03/1921; 20/07/1921; 27/07/1921; 03/08/1921; 16/11/1921; 23/11/1921; 17/10/1923
Illustrated Chronicle 16/10/1923 carries photo of unveiling.
Northern Echo 17/06/1922 reports proposals; 15/10/1923 reports unveiling.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 20/10/1923 has photo of unveiling.
Darlington & Stockton Times 27/01/1923 reports progress; 20/10/1923 reports unveiling.
Auckland and County Chronicle 03/06/1923 reports unveiling.
Beamish Museum Copy of Order of Service Ref: 1961.52al 1.6315
Durham County Council ref: 505/6/2/157
The Barney Crier No.11, Winter 2009, Town Council Newsletter, reports proposed restoration.
External web link
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; John and Mavis Dixon; Durham County Council; Howard and Christine Jemmeson; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Peter Wise has produced a booklet which details the story of the memorial itself as well as giving details of the lives of the men listed which can be obtained from him for £4 including postage. Contact: pgwise@tiscali.co.uk
Obelisk 1914-18 1939-45 Bowes Museum (B135.25)
BARNARD CASTLE Bowes Museum grounds.
Panel 5 on front face of middle pedestal
PRO PATRIA
1914 – 1919
In grateful remembrance of the men of
Barnard Castle
of all ranks, who fell in the Great War
for God and King and Right
they gave their all
Panel 1 on front face of top pedestal
Allison F. Coates A.
Ashmore F. Coates W.J.
Ashmore J. Connell G.
Bailey J. Croft G.W.
Barker N. Dent J.
Beadale H. Dodds, B.
Berry G.W. Elliot D.
Blenkinsopp C.W. Emerson A.W.
Breen F. Emerson J.H.
Brown G.A. Errington T
Brown T.W. Etherington R.H.
Burn A.R. Evans H.
Butler R.J. Fawcett R.
Chandler T. Featham F.J.
Chatt T. Finn J.
Chapman T. Finn P.
Panel 2 on right hand side of top pedestal
Fleet W. Holmes W.E.
Foott A. Hopson J.F.
Gall E.S. Horan F.
Gilmore J. Horan J.
Graham A. Hughes J.W.
Gray H.A. Hunt J.W.
Hall J. Hunter T.S.
Hall S. Hull J.J.
Harrison L. Jemmeson F.
Hebdon R. Jemmeson G.
Henderson F. Jemmeson T.
Heslop W. Johnson W.E.
Hewitson W. Jones J.
Higginbotham G.G.M. Kelly E.
Hird J.W.B. Kelly J.
Hodgson W. Kipling T.B.
Panel 3 on left hand side of top pedestal
Lee E. Okey J.
Leyland J.T. Okey N.
Little A.W. Parker E.L.
Lodge B.G. Patterson R.H.
Lowe E.I. Raine C.W.
Lumley H. Raine J.W.
McCheyne J.W. Ramsden J.
McDonough J. Robson T.A.
Merryweather F. Rogers J.
Moore J.T. O’Hara Sayer T.E.
Morley F. Shephard B.
Mulgrew T. (Sen) Sissons S.
Mulgrew T. (Jun) Smiles R.H.
Murray G.A. Smith A.
Nevison A.V. Smith F.
Nixon T.W. Smith G.H.
Panel 4 on rear of top pedestal
Smith J.T. Watson J.R.
Smith R. Wearmouth S.T.
Stembridge J. Welford A.
Stoddart R. Wellman F.T.
Stoddart S. Wilkinson J.
Stokeld T.A. Wilkinson S.W.
Stout G. Wilson G.W.
Stout J.W. Wilson J.P.
Theakston R.W. Wilson M.
Urquhart F. Wilson W.
Waine G.G. Young E.
Waine W. Young J.
Walker R. Young R.E.
Walton A.E.
Wardle G.H.
Watson H.
Panel 6 on front face of bottom pedestal
In memory of those who fell
in the Second World War
1939 – 1945
Barker R.H. Hunter R. Spencer P
Bayles H.E. Jackson F.D. Stancliffe D.A.
Bower P.H. Jefferson R.L. Stoddart A.E.
Brownless J.J. Johnson J. Sutherland S.
Chapman T.A. Jones J. Swales J.
Chatt F. Kitching R.J.A. Waine W.H.F.
Corrigan P.P. Leaske J.J.R. Walker A.L.
Cummings A.J. Mackie E.H. Walker R.
Dalf G. Marquiss T.H. Watson K.H.
Deacon D. Milner A. Wilkinson E.M.
Deacon R. Pattison G. Wilson C.
Down F.H. Pickersgill C.D. Wilson J.
Dresser H. Ridsdale F.R. Wilson M.
Goldsmith T. Roberts D. Winter J.
Gregory J. Robinson J.N. Winter J.H.
Hinchcliffe G.A. Roch N. Wright C.
Holroyd J.G. Sheppard E.G. Wright W.
Smith W.T.
They died that we might live.
NamesB166.07
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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