Memorial Details

Cross 1914-18 St. John's Churchyard

U1.01

ULGHAM

NZ 234925

St. John the Baptist Church. North east corner of graveyard, facing road.

1914-18

Unveiled 27th July 1924 by Hon. Arthur Joicey of Longhirst. Dedicated by Rev. P.C. Fielding, Vicar.
Restored memorial unveiled 4th November 2018. Rededicated 11th November 2018 by Bishop Mark Tanner of Berwick on Tweed

Cross of Celtic type 2.5m high, tapering gently on a tapered pedestal, and resting on two steps 153cm x 106cm. The dedication starts at the bottom of the cross and carries down onto the pedestal. Names are in sans serif capitals. The quotation is on the riser of the top step. Another name has been added below this.

Granite

To the / glory of God / and / in / honoured memory of / the men of the Parish of Ulgham / who fell in the Great War / 1914-1918
"The men were very good unto us and we were not hurt, / They were a wall unto us both by night and day"

War Memorial Committee

Public subscription

Restored 2018

Designed by W.R. Rochester; made by Maile Ltd., Euston Rd., London.
Restored by Art of Stone, Blyth.

Ulgham Parish Council

1. In 2017 it was noticed that the cross was leaning slightly. The decision was taken that the whole memorial should be repaired and turned through 180 degrees so that names faced into the churchyard. This was because the road is narrow and not only on a bus route but is also on the designated coast road. People standing in the road would be between two narrow hilly bends, and it was felt by all that it would be safer to hold services in the churchyard. The St.John the Baptist Parochial Church Council, Ulgham Parish Council, Ulgham Village Association, East Stobswood and Widdrington Parish Council, Northumberland County Council all agreed that this would be a sensible and safe move.. A Faculty was obtained.

The War Memorials Trust gave a small grant for survey purposes but would not allow a grant for the repairs involving the 180 degree turn because the people who erected in 1923 wanted it to face the road.

2. In 1967: "Twelve rose trees which are being planted round a war memorial at Ulgham, Northumberland, are to be tended by an expert. Mr. W. Robson, former head gardener of the late Sir Charles Trevelyan and a specialist on rose-growing, has undertaken to maintain the tree for the Widdrington and Stobswood branch of the British Legion. Relarives of war victims, and all ex-servicemen and women, are invited by the branch to attend a planting ceremony at the memorial at 3 p.m. on Saturday".

Photos: J. Brown; photograph of unveiling ceremony: J. Brown

Morpeth Herald 01/08/1924 reports unveiling; 22/11/2018 reports rededication.

Illustrated Chronicle 28/07/1924 carries photo of unveiling.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle 02/11/1967 reports planning of rose trees in Note 2 above. (Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Source of quotation
“The men were very good unto us . . .” 1 Samuel 25 15, 16

Morpeth Herald 1924 08 01 Fri

Janet Brown; P. Thirkell; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall; George Brown

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

 

ULGHAM, St. John the Baptist Churchyard.

   To the 

   glory of God 

   and 

   in 

   honoured memory of 

   the men of the Parish of Ulgham 

   who fell in the Great War 

   1914-1918

   Sergt.  A. Harrison    Pte. J.W. Hall

   L/Sgt.  R. Taylor      "    T. Learmouth

   Corp.   J. Heslop      "    R. McLain

   "       J. Wilkinson   "    J. Mavin

   L/Cpl.  R. White       "    M. Middleton

   L/Bomb. G.T. Nelson    "    A. Rogers

   Pte.    N. Burge       "    N. Sim

   "       A. Curry       "    I. Youll

   "       J.D. Ferguson  Ldg.Smn J. Patten 

   "The men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, 

    They were a wall unto us both by night and day" 

                          Corp. W Lowery.

NamesU1.01

Notes for this Parish

Individual stories for this Parish