Memorial

Park 1914-18 Battle Green

Pelton Fell

Memorial Name: Park 1914-18 Battle Green (P27.02)

NEWMP Ref No.: P27.02

Parish: Pelton Fell

Original Location:

Battle Green

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a.
Original pavilion opened Saturday 22nd July 1922, when Sir Horace Plunkett unlocked the gates with a silver key. Dedication by Rt. Rev. The Lord Bishop of Jarrow, Rt. Rev. J.T. Quirk.

b.
New pavilion officially opened 16th June 2002

Materials Used:

Wrought iron gates.

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee

Cost:

a. Gates, cenotaph, bandstand and park cost £6,000.

b. New pavilion cost £170,000.

How Money was Raised:

a. Subscription and officials of Pelton Fell Colliery, N.E.R. employees, Co-op employees and local tradesmen.

b. £112,809 from SportEngland, £17,500 raised by club members. A grant of £150 was provided by War Memorials Trust.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Gates made by Messrs. H.H. Martyn and Co., Cheltenham.
Bandstand made by Messrs. James Allen, Senior, and Sons, Glasgow.
Gates designed by Messrs. Emley and Son, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Architecture for new pavilion was started by Danny Elliott (Hon. Life Member) and completed by John Taylor.

Inscription:

Brass plaque:

Pelton Fell War Memorial Park Bowling Club
This pavilion was officially opened on
Sunday 16th June 2002
by
Mr. Vincent Clements
Operations Manager for the North East and Cumbria areas
of the
Coal Industry Welfare Organisation.

Memorial Description:

War Memorial Park, originally 3.7 acres.

The gates are of black wrought iron and are fixed to sandstone columns.

Each has a wreath which matches that of the cenotaph.

The left gate has 1914 and the right has 1919.

The brick walls either side curve away from the gates to the main road.

The path leads straight to the Cenotaph.

Behind the Cenotaph is the sports ground comprising tennis courts, bowling green etc.

On the walls of the pavilion are various framed plaques telling the story.

Names:

None

Notes:

1. The original proposal was for housing for widows, until it became known that the owners of the Pelton Fell Colliery were going to build these houses themselves. It was then decided that the public memorial would be Cenotaph, Swimming Baths, Bandstand and Park. Designs from Mr. Albert H. Fennell of Fennell and Davis of Gateshead were accepted.

2. The park would later be laid out with Bowling Green, Bandstand, Shelters, Paths, Shrubs, lines of Yews, Herbaceous Borders and Turfing.

3. In June 2002, a new pavilion was provided for the Pelton Fell War Memorial Park Bowling Club. The club takes its name from the park, the club is not a war memorial in its own right. The club was funded from various local firms and Sport England, and includes showers, changing and locker rooms and a hall and kitchen.

4. The new pavilion project was the brainchild of Secretary Ron Rose in 1994, and he was the driving force.

5. The original sports pavilion was eventually used as a store after being replaced by two Portakabins.

6. Present at the re-opening was Kevan Jones, Labour M.P.

7. 2002 was also the 80th birthday of the club, and the 21st birthday of the Ladies’ League.

8. Friends of War Memorials (now War Memorials Trust) gave a grant of £150 towards the costs of the sports hall.

Sources:

Photos of rededication 16/06/2002: Janet Brown

Chester le Street Advertiser
26/04/2018 reports War Memorial Park to get makeover

Chester le Street Chronicle
1922 passim reports on proposals and progress.

Illustrated Chronicle
11/11/1920 reports proposals.

Northern Echo
11/11/1920 reports proposals.

Friends of War Memorials
Newsletter reports presence of Regional Volunteer at the opening of the new pavilion.