Memorial Details

Monument 1914-18 Front Street

S148.01

SUNNYSIDE

NZ 142384

Miners Institute on the front garden of "The Bungalow" 118 Front Street.

The Miners Institute has been converted to a private residence.

1914-18

Unveiled 5th June 1920 by Mr. H. Pratt, manager of Roddymoor Colliery.

Marble Headstone. Scroll design flanked by stylised lilies, on a two-tier pedestal, the whole looking rather like an ordinary headstone in a cemetery and not much bigger. The dedication and names are on the front of the stone, carried down in two columns onto the riser of the top step. The quotation is on the bottom freestone pedestal. All lettering is in capitals throughout, with the quotation in italics.

White marble

Erected by the inhabitants of / Sunniside to the memory / of men who fell in the / Great War 1914-1919. / Sunniside War Memorial. / (Names) /
“Pass not this stone in sorrow / but in pride. May you live / as nobly as they have died.”

Durham Miners Association

Land donated by Messrs. Pease and Partners.

Fair

National Coal Board from 1947

1. The house was originally the Miners’ Institute. It was later sold and converted into a private house, but the memorial stayed in the garden. It can be viewed through the gate and wreaths are laid on Remembrance Day.

2. The Community gardens have been created and it is proposed to resite the memorial there.

3. There is a covenant stipulating in the deeds that quotes 'You must not at any time "deface, interfere with or remove" the War Memorial on the land or in any way obstruct or interfere with the rights of access to the War Memorial. The bungalow was specifically conveyed by the Coal Board subject to the right of all persons to enter upon" land to maintain and repair the War Memorial. and of the public to enter upon land for the purpose of visiting the War Memorial".

4. Wear Valley District Council had considered the re-locating of the War Memorial many times through the 1970s, and 1980s as with the abeyance of the Covenant, the Memorial cannot be moved as it is part of the agreement in purchasing the Bungalow. The Council agreed with the above condition.

6. There was also objections from relatives in the village against the moving of the War Memorial.

7. Public access was granted as per the covenant.

8. The view to the front of the building is obstructed by a hedge, so the Memorial can be viewed close up by access to the front garden.

9. Please respect the owner's property and land as the Memorial is in the owner's garden.

10. See Note 2, this cannot be undertaken due to the covenant agreement.

Photos: Jillian Gibson Stephenson; Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall

Northern Echo 07/06/1920 reports unveiling.

Durham Chronicle 25/01/1974 reports on how the institute became a home.

History of a Village - Sunniside Julie Ward 2006 (on DCRO shelves)

Source of quotation
“Pass not this stone . . .” (Not ascertained).

Northern Echo 1920 06 07 Mon

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; Jillian Gibson-Stephenson; David Wilson; James Pasby; Dorothy Hall; John and Mavis Dixon

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk

 

SUNNYSIDE  

   Erected

   by the inhabitants of 

   Sunnyside to the memory 

   of men who fell in the 

   Great War 1914-1919.  

   Sunnyside War Memorial.  

   Names and regiments.  

   T.G. Collinson   2nd Yorks

   C.H. Hall        "    "

   T.W. Cave        "    "

   E. Lee           "    "

   J.W. Walker      6th  "

   J.G. Pears       "    "

   M. Nicholson     Est. "

   J. Claughton     "    "

   R. Proud         "    "

   A.R. Simpson     6th D.L.I.

   H. Brooks        "    "

   R. Thompson      "    "

   J.R. Agar        "    "

   W. Charlton      "    "

   J. Stearman      "    "

   J. Harle         "    "

   G.L. Holliday    5th  "

   R. Stephenson    "    "

   ---------------------------------------

On riser of top step

   R.A. Proud    2nd D.L.I.      A. Nelson      N.F.

   J. Tarn       13th  "         H. Robinson    "

   A. Millburn   N.F.            R. Hunter      N. Staffs

                 J.W. Robinson, R.F.A.

On front of bottom plinth

   "Pass not this stone in sorrow 

    but in pride, May you live 

    as nobly as they have died."

NamesS148.01

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