Memorial Details
Memorial
Garden and arch 1914-18 1939-45 Front Street
Reference
N10.02
Place
NEWBIGGIN BY THE SEA
Map ref
NZ 309876
Original Location
Front Street
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Plaque on archway unveiled 8th November 1924 by Major N. Southern. Dedication by Canon Rhodes, Vicar of Woodhorn. The gates were unlocked by Mr. Cutter of the Newbiggin Urban District Council.
Memorial Description
Garden of Remembrance with entrance through an archway. The archway is approx. 15 feet high with a pair of bronze gates. On the front of the arch at the top is a laurel wreath carved in half relief. The words "Memorial Park" are incised using sans serif capitals below the wreath and above the dedication, and the dates "1914" and "1939" to the left of the dedication and "1918" and "1945" to the right are incised using Roman figures. The dedication is formed of bronze letters attached to the stone above the gateway, using Roman capitals.
Inside the gateway is a rough boulder with smooth front face telling of the 2005 restoration of the park and the opening, the lettering incised using Roman lower case. A notice has been fixed to the gate asking people to respect the park.
Also inside the gate is a concrete wreath approx 6 feet diameter. It rests against a column, with the words on the column “A Voice forever stilled / A / Memory” seen through the wreath.
Inside the gateway is a rough boulder with smooth front face telling of the 2005 restoration of the park and the opening, the lettering incised using Roman lower case. A notice has been fixed to the gate asking people to respect the park.
Also inside the gate is a concrete wreath approx 6 feet diameter. It rests against a column, with the words on the column “A Voice forever stilled / A / Memory” seen through the wreath.
Materials used
Portland stone arch.
Inscription
On gateway:
To the glorious memory of the men of
1914 Newbiggin-by-the-Sea who made the 1918
1935 supreme sacrifice in the Great War. 1945
On boulder:
The restoration
of
Memorial Park
opened by
H.R.H. The Duke of Kent
15th June 2005
On wreath inside gate:
A voice forever stilled
A
Memory
1914 Newbiggin-by-the-Sea who made the 1918
1935 supreme sacrifice in the Great War. 1945
On boulder:
of
Memorial Park
opened by
H.R.H. The Duke of Kent
15th June 2005
On wreath inside gate:
A
Memory
Names
None
Who commissioned
War Memorial Committee, Chairman Cllr. T. Walsh.
How money was raised
Public subscription. The site was provided by the Freeholders of Newbiggin.
Present condition
Restored 2005, rededicated 15th June 2005 in the presence of the Duke of Kent.
English Heritage Listing
Grade II. Ref 494616
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Stonework around park done by Messrs. Finlay and Robinson of Woodhorn. The arch itself built by Mr. Gibson of Newbiggin. Turf and asphalt were by Messrs. Edgar and Mole. Pallisading by Messrs. Downie and Sons. Trees and shrubs from Mathesons of Morpeth. Archway designed by Messrs. Cackett and Burns Dick of Newcastle.
Ownership and maintenance
Wansbeck District Council. The site was given into the hands of the Newbiggin Urban District Council at the time of the unveiling in November 1924.
Notes
1. The site chosen for the Park was a derelict site known as the "Old Pond", and was situated opposite Newbiggin Station.
2. At the opening, Mr. Cutter was presented with a silver cigarette case.
3. In 1939-45, 945 men left to fight, of whom 50 died.
4. In 1949, men and a woman who had received gallantry awards were given silver cigarette cases, and a woman received a silver powder compact.
5. The Newbiggin branch of the Comrades of the Great War wrote to the Morpeth Herald: “We the Newbiggin Branch of the Comrades of the Great War strongly condemn the suggestion to build a War Memorial in the shape of a monument, and strongly advise the Council either to hold a public meeting to enable the man who has served to voice his views, or to accept the suggestion to build a public hall and invest the proceeds for the benefit of the men who have fallen”.
6. As part of the 2015 alterations, the concrete wreath has been removed.
2. At the opening, Mr. Cutter was presented with a silver cigarette case.
3. In 1939-45, 945 men left to fight, of whom 50 died.
4. In 1949, men and a woman who had received gallantry awards were given silver cigarette cases, and a woman received a silver powder compact.
5. The Newbiggin branch of the Comrades of the Great War wrote to the Morpeth Herald: “We the Newbiggin Branch of the Comrades of the Great War strongly condemn the suggestion to build a War Memorial in the shape of a monument, and strongly advise the Council either to hold a public meeting to enable the man who has served to voice his views, or to accept the suggestion to build a public hall and invest the proceeds for the benefit of the men who have fallen”.
6. As part of the 2015 alterations, the concrete wreath has been removed.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: J. Brown; old postcard: Tony Harding
Morpeth Herald 24/01/1919 reports proposals; 21/02/1919 reports disagreement in Note 5 above; 04/07/1919 reports creation of a garden; 29/08/1919 reports flag day results; 28/05/1920 reports meeting to discuss the form of the memorial and the raising of the funds; 04/07/1924 reports the agreement on form of the memorial and site; 14/11/1924 reports opening of park, and also row over who was to chair the ceremony; 23/08/1945 reports numbers of men who fought and those who died; 07/10/1949 reports gifts to gallantry award winners.
Morpeth County Library Postcard collection shows the gates decorated with flowers.
Newcastle Daily Journal 21/05/1920 reports arch to be erected at entrance to the Pond.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 15/11/1924 reports opening.
Blyth News 10/11/1924 reports opening.
News Post leader 24/10/2002 contains letter requesting that children respect the garden, and reports proposals to have the railings replaced and the iron work refurbished.
Morpeth Herald 24/01/1919 reports proposals; 21/02/1919 reports disagreement in Note 5 above; 04/07/1919 reports creation of a garden; 29/08/1919 reports flag day results; 28/05/1920 reports meeting to discuss the form of the memorial and the raising of the funds; 04/07/1924 reports the agreement on form of the memorial and site; 14/11/1924 reports opening of park, and also row over who was to chair the ceremony; 23/08/1945 reports numbers of men who fought and those who died; 07/10/1949 reports gifts to gallantry award winners.
Morpeth County Library Postcard collection shows the gates decorated with flowers.
Newcastle Daily Journal 21/05/1920 reports arch to be erected at entrance to the Pond.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 15/11/1924 reports opening.
Blyth News 10/11/1924 reports opening.
News Post leader 24/10/2002 contains letter requesting that children respect the garden, and reports proposals to have the railings replaced and the iron work refurbished.
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
P. Thirkell; J. Brown; Wansbeck District Council; Janet Brown; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Newbiggin by the Sea Genealogy Project is studying the impact of WW1 on the town
Contact: newbigginbyseagenealogyproject@gmail.com
Garden and arch 1914-18 1939-45 Front Street (N10.02)
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Parish Notes
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