Memorial

Lychgate 1914-18 1939-45 St. Cuthbert

Allendale Town

Memorial Name: Lychgate 1914-18 1939-45 St. Cuthbert (A6.02)

NEWMP Ref No.: A6.02

Parish: Allendale Town

Original Location:

St. Cuthbert’s Church, Market Place

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled August 1920 by Viscountess Allendale.
Dedicated by Canon Newsom.

Materials Used:

The parapet is of dressed stone from a local quarry.
The stone flags are from an old smelt mill.
Oak woodwork.

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription

Present Condition: Restored 2006

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Designed by J. Landell Nicholson of Newcastle on Tyne and Allendale.
Masons: J. & W. Newman, Allendale;
Oak: Parsons & Ridley;
Carving: R. Percy Appleby, Newcastle on Tyne;
Lettering: C. Nicholson, Newcastle

Inscription:

On outside overhead arch
For God, King and Country.

On centre panel on one side
To the Glory of God
and in grateful memory
of men from this parish
who gave their lives for
their Country in the
Great War 1914-1919
this lych gate is dedicated.

On centre panel on other side
They whom this lych gate commemorates
were numbered among those who at
the call of King and Country left all
that was dear to them, endured hardness,
faced danger and finally passed out
of the sight of men by the path of duty
and self sacrifice by giving up
their own lives that others might
live in freedom. Let those who come after
see to it that their names
be not forgotten.

On a beam:
Roll
of
Honour.

Memorial Description:

Lychgate in Gothic style covering an area 10 feet x 8 feet (3.05m x 2.4m).

Dark wood on stone base.

Over the entrance is the cross of St. Cuthbert.

The words “For God, King and Country” are incised into the barge boards using Gothic lettering.

On a beam above the first centre panel are inscribed the words “Roll of Honour”.

The inner walls have been divided into three panels on each side.

The centre panel on each side bears a dedication, while the two outer panels on each side bear names.

Lettering is Roman capitals.

Names:

a. 22 full names.
b. 2 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. It was suggested, as a war memorial, that the Savings Bank premises be purchased as a public amenity, but allowing the Bank to continue to operate.

2. Returning servicemen were presented with gold watches and chains.

3. From the area, 132 men joined and over 100 returned.

4. The gates were removed because of vandalism. A new set was provided, but these were also vandalised and have been removed. 2019 – there are gates in place.

5. The seats have also been removed, since they provided vandals with a roofed venue in which to congregate, with the result that the name panels have also been attacked.

6. Of those named, the following references are on an Honours Board: J. Routledge was awarded the Military Medal in 1916; Albert Henderson was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1917.

7. In 2006 War Memorials Trust made a grant of £2,900 towards the restoration of the lychgate.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: P. Thirkell; Tony Harding

Hexham Courant
29/11/1919 and 04/12/1920 records proposals to buy Savings Bank;
02/01/1920 reports gifts of gold watches;
21/08/1920 reports unveiling.

Hexham Weekly News
20/08/1920 reports unveiling.

Illustrated Chronicle
16/08/1920 reports unveiling with photos.

Newcastle Daily Journal
11/08/1920 reports proposed unveiling on Saturday;
16/08/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
21/08/1920 reports unveiling.

The Journal
11/12/2006 carries an article about research on some of the names on the memorial.

War Memorials Trust
Bulletin Autumn 2006 No. 31 reports the donation of a grant.

Morpeth County Library
Frith collection of photographs; Postcard collection shows the site before the lychgate was erected and after.

Source of quotation
“They whom this lych gate commemorates were numbered . . .” Adapted from a Certificate sent to all bereaved families under the George V cipher and coat of arms.