Memorial

Flagpole Thanks for safe return 1914-18

Meldon

Memorial Name: Flagpole Thanks for safe return 1914-18 (M3.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: M3.01

Parish: Meldon

Original Location:

In front garden of former School House.

Which War:

1914-18

Materials Used:

Stone

How Money was Raised:

Col. Cookson, Meldon Park.
Public subscription.

Present Condition: Good, though beginning to be covered with lichen. The flagpole has gone.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Robinson, The Clear House, Meldon.

Inscription:

Erected
to
commemorate the victory
and
in grateful thanks
for the safe return
of all those men
who left the parish
to serve in
the Great War.

1914 1919

Memorial Description:

Flag pole.

The base is a stone block 48 inches high x 36 inches wide by 24 inches deep (122cms x 91cms x61cms), the front of which has been carved into the shape of a shield in relief.

It rests on a circular stone base of 60 inches diameter (152cms), which in turn is on top of another base 96 inches in diameter (244cms).

On top are four iron bolts which once supported the flagpole.

The lettering is incised into the shield in Roman capitals, and may once have been painted black.

The dates 1914-1918 are carved into the main block on either side of the bottom of the shield.

Names:

None

Notes:

1. This village, whose men all came back, is one of 51 villages in England called “Thankful Villages” by Arthur Mee. The men who served all returned.

2. There is a story that there was a lion on the base which was broken off by a little girl who has never been named.

3. On August 3rd 2013, a visit was made by about 40 motor bikes of the “Thanksgiving Villages Group”, touring all 51 of the Thankful Villages in England to raise funds for the Royal British Legion. They had a brief service by the flagpole, and presented the village with a plaque and a certificate. It was hoped that the plaque would be dedicated on 3rd August 2014 at the same time as the other 50. They then went on to visit Hunstanworth.

4. There are no thankful villages in Scotland. Meldon is the most northerly in mainland Britain.

5. The school was closed and the house was sold as a private dwelling. Application was made to the War Memorials Trust for funds to transfer the flagpole to the church, but this was rejected by WMT who said it should remain where it had always been.

External Links:

The list of Thankful Villages
Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown, P. Thirkell

Illustrated Chronicle
13/11/1922 has photo with flag flying.

Morpeth Herald
10/11/1922 reports fund-raising;
16/08/2013 carries an article which seeks information about the lion story

Old Bike Mart
May 2013 reports proposed motor cycle visit in August.