Memorial Details
Memorial
Sundial 1939-45 Ralph Gardner School
Reference
N34.47
Place
NORTH SHIELDS
Map ref
NZ 347683
Original Location
Ralph Gardner School, Albion Road West. In the quadrangle.
Present Location
The school closed in July 1994 and was immediately demolished.
Which war
1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
Presented 24th May 1957
Memorial Description
Sundial on stone plinth made in the form of a classic fluted Greek column, 13 inches (329mm) diameter, with a splayed foot 18 inches (416mm) wide. This stands on a stone foundation 47 inches long, 26 inches wide and 7 inches deep (1.21m x 660mm x 177mm).
Materials used
Stone Metal
Inscription
None
Names
None
Present condition
Broken. See Note 4 below.
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
The sundial top was designed and made by the pupils and teacher of the Woodwork class.
Notes
1. Various former pupils received awards for bravery, details unknown.
2. The school was badly damaged in an air raid on the 2nd October 1941.
3. The boys dug up the quadrangle and grew 8 tons of potatoes, 10,000 cabbages and 4,000 leeks as well as other vegetables. The girls' Knitting Club made hundreds of items such as socks, balaclava helmets, scarves and gloves. The school donated thousands of pounds from fund raising.
4. The top portion of the sundial had been broken off, and was said to be with the North Tyneside Corporation. They now say that it is lost. The bottom portion, 711mm (28ins) high, was to have remained in its original position in the quadrangle. However, on 22/09/1994 it was taken into the Rising Sun Country Park, Benton, according to North Tyneside Council Property Services.
5. The foundation stone for the school was laid in 1933, and was officially opened in 1935. There were separate schools for boys and girls each with its own head teacher.
6. In 1933 the foundation stone to Ralph Gardner School was laid and the school was officially opened two years later in June 1934. At this stage there were separate boys and girls schools, each with its own head teacher. In 1944 administrative changes saw these become Secondary Modern Schools. The school finally closed (despite strong opposition) on 15 July 1994. It then was demolished.
7. The sundial was presented in memory of former pupils who died in 1939-45 and also to mark the 21st Anniversary of the school.
8. The Senior Boys' School Savings Group was awarded a Certificate of Honour in recognition of Special Achievement during the Wings for Victory National Savings Campaign 1943.
2. The school was badly damaged in an air raid on the 2nd October 1941.
3. The boys dug up the quadrangle and grew 8 tons of potatoes, 10,000 cabbages and 4,000 leeks as well as other vegetables. The girls' Knitting Club made hundreds of items such as socks, balaclava helmets, scarves and gloves. The school donated thousands of pounds from fund raising.
4. The top portion of the sundial had been broken off, and was said to be with the North Tyneside Corporation. They now say that it is lost. The bottom portion, 711mm (28ins) high, was to have remained in its original position in the quadrangle. However, on 22/09/1994 it was taken into the Rising Sun Country Park, Benton, according to North Tyneside Council Property Services.
5. The foundation stone for the school was laid in 1933, and was officially opened in 1935. There were separate schools for boys and girls each with its own head teacher.
6. In 1933 the foundation stone to Ralph Gardner School was laid and the school was officially opened two years later in June 1934. At this stage there were separate boys and girls schools, each with its own head teacher. In 1944 administrative changes saw these become Secondary Modern Schools. The school finally closed (despite strong opposition) on 15 July 1994. It then was demolished.
7. The sundial was presented in memory of former pupils who died in 1939-45 and also to mark the 21st Anniversary of the school.
8. The Senior Boys' School Savings Group was awarded a Certificate of Honour in recognition of Special Achievement during the Wings for Victory National Savings Campaign 1943.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos of bottom portion: R.W. Gould; photo taken at presentation: Newcastle Chronicle: Tyne & Wear Archives and Museum Services.
Tyne and Wear Archives School scrapbooks Ref: E.NSI/1/10/1 1935-1948
North Shields: The bombing of a Town, Ron Curran, 2009, Summerhill Books, ISBN 9 781906 721213, is written “In Honour of all who fought: The Service Men and Women and Civilians 1939-1945.
Tyne and Wear Archives School scrapbooks Ref: E.NSI/1/10/1 1935-1948
North Shields: The bombing of a Town, Ron Curran, 2009, Summerhill Books, ISBN 9 781906 721213, is written “In Honour of all who fought: The Service Men and Women and Civilians 1939-1945.
Additional Research documents (click to download)
Research acknowledgements
The late R.W. Gould; James Pasby; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
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Sundial 1939-45 Ralph Gardner School (N34.47)
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Parish Notes
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