Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside
Reference
W101.01
Place
WESTOE
Map ref
NZ 370663
Original Location
In the grounds of Ingham Infirmary “one of the finest sites in the borough”
Present Location
Roadside. At junction of Westoe Road and Horsley Hill Road.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 28th February 1928 by Sir James Readhead of Westoe Hall, President of the Ingham Infirmary. Dedicated by Rev. J. Hudson Barker, Rural Dean.
Memorial Description
Cross and enclosure. The cross is of Blomfield design, tall and slim, 25 feet (7.62m) high, octagonal, with a bronze crusader’s sword front and back. The cross stands on two steps on top of a pedestal, which in turns stands on a four-stepped octagonal platform. A bronze plaque 3 feet high x 2 feet 1 inch wide (915mm x 635mm) is at the front of the pedestal. It has a raised decorated border. Lettering is in raised Roman capitals. Incised into the stone on the faces adjacent to the bronze plaque are the dates “1914-1918” and “1939-1945”.
On the riser of one of the steps is incised the details of the unveiling in sans serif capitals.
The whole stands in an area with paving and trees, inside an ornamental fence.
On the riser of one of the steps is incised the details of the unveiling in sans serif capitals.
The whole stands in an area with paving and trees, inside an ornamental fence.
Materials used
Portland stone
Inscription
and in memory of
those of this town
who laid down their
lives in the Great War,
this cross was erected
and twenty four cots
in the children’s ward
of this infirmary
were endowed by
public subscription.
Unveiled by
Sir James Readhead Bart
28th February 1928.
Names
None
Who commissioned
South Shields War Memorial Committee
Cost
£1,105 4 shillings
How money was raised
The bulk of the money raised went to the cots in the Infirmary.
Present condition
Hospital demolished 1990-1, replaced by a block of flats 1992
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Designed by Messrs. J.H. Morton & Sons, Architects, North Eastern Bank Chambers, South Shields. Made by William Robertson Cliff, 19 May Street, South Shields, Sculptor
Ownership and maintenance
At the unveiling ceremony, the memorial was handed over to Mr. J.H.Rennoldson, who accepted it on behalf of the Infirmary, of which he was the oldest elected Trustee.
Notes
1. The War Memorial Committee prepared to raise funds to
(i) give a reception to the returning men;
(ii) to present an illuminated manuscript bearing the recipient's name to each person who served (24,000 were presented, including to schoolchildren as souvenirs)
(iii) to erect the Town's War Memorial, which would be in the form of a Children's Hospital on a site adjoining the Ingham Infirmary Grounds at a cost of £20,000 (See W101.02)
2. Articles of Agreement to build signed 2nd September 1925.
3. The unveiling was to have been carried out by the Earl of Durham, but he was ill.
4. The sum of £13,105 had been raised in the town, and besides the cross, it was decided to endow in perpetuity 24 cots for children at £500 per cot in a new wing of the Infirmary (See W101.02)
5. Sir James was presented with a silver casket as a souvenir of the occasion.
6. “An addition to the original plans – a spacious forecourt and flower beds – has been made possible by the generosity of the Harton Coal Co. Ltd., which has undertaken to meet any extra costs incurred up to 100 guineas”.
7. The original proposal was to build a children’s hospital within the grounds of the Ingham Infirmary, but the money was not forthcoming. The Governors withdrew their offer of a site on 30th April 1923. The proposal was then changed to have a memorial rather than a utilitarian scheme. However, another proposal was that a maternity unit with 12 beds should be erected and equipped for £3,000.
8. At the unveiling ceremony, the memorial was handed over to Mr. J.H. Rennoldson, who accepted it on behalf of the Infirmary, of which he was the oldest elected Trustee.
(i) give a reception to the returning men;
(ii) to present an illuminated manuscript bearing the recipient's name to each person who served (24,000 were presented, including to schoolchildren as souvenirs)
(iii) to erect the Town's War Memorial, which would be in the form of a Children's Hospital on a site adjoining the Ingham Infirmary Grounds at a cost of £20,000 (See W101.02)
2. Articles of Agreement to build signed 2nd September 1925.
3. The unveiling was to have been carried out by the Earl of Durham, but he was ill.
4. The sum of £13,105 had been raised in the town, and besides the cross, it was decided to endow in perpetuity 24 cots for children at £500 per cot in a new wing of the Infirmary (See W101.02)
5. Sir James was presented with a silver casket as a souvenir of the occasion.
6. “An addition to the original plans – a spacious forecourt and flower beds – has been made possible by the generosity of the Harton Coal Co. Ltd., which has undertaken to meet any extra costs incurred up to 100 guineas”.
7. The original proposal was to build a children’s hospital within the grounds of the Ingham Infirmary, but the money was not forthcoming. The Governors withdrew their offer of a site on 30th April 1923. The proposal was then changed to have a memorial rather than a utilitarian scheme. However, another proposal was that a maternity unit with 12 beds should be erected and equipped for £3,000.
8. At the unveiling ceremony, the memorial was handed over to Mr. J.H. Rennoldson, who accepted it on behalf of the Infirmary, of which he was the oldest elected Trustee.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: C.Sanders; Tony Harding
Shields Daily News01/03/1926 reports unveiling.
Tyne and Wear Archives War Memorial Committee Papers Ref HO.Ing/41.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 12/12/1925 reports Harton Coal Co. gift in Note 6 above.
Northern Echo 21/04/1923 reports failure to raise funds for a children’s hospital; 24/04/1923 reports results of a public meeting; 05/05/1923 reports proposals in Note 7 above.
South Shields Library (Local Collection) original plans and minutes.
Shields Gazette 01/07/1925 reports progress; 15/07/1925 contains a drawing; 24/07/1925 confirms use of site; 31/07/1925 contains advertisement for contractors to tender; 11/11/1925 deplores the fact that the memorial wasn’t ready for today’s commemorations; 18/12/1925 reports proposed unveiling by the Earl of Durham; 20/01/1926 confirms date of unveiling; also that the Harton Coal Co. would pay any shortfall in the fund; 01/03/1926 reports unveiling;
"A History of South Shields" page 159
Shields Daily News01/03/1926 reports unveiling.
Tyne and Wear Archives War Memorial Committee Papers Ref HO.Ing/41.
Northern Echo 21/04/1923 reports failure to raise funds for a children’s hospital; 24/04/1923 reports results of a public meeting; 05/05/1923 reports proposals in Note 7 above.
South Shields Library (Local Collection) original plans and minutes.
Shields Gazette 01/07/1925 reports progress; 15/07/1925 contains a drawing; 24/07/1925 confirms use of site; 31/07/1925 contains advertisement for contractors to tender; 11/11/1925 deplores the fact that the memorial wasn’t ready for today’s commemorations; 18/12/1925 reports proposed unveiling by the Earl of Durham; 20/01/1926 confirms date of unveiling; also that the Harton Coal Co. would pay any shortfall in the fund; 01/03/1926 reports unveiling;
"A History of South Shields" page 159
External web link
Research acknowledgements
The late R.W. Gould; Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; James Pasby; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall; Michael Mulhern; Adam Bell; Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Research In Progress
The names on this memorial are being researched by Peter Hoy.
Contact: peterhoy@hotmail.co.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (W101.01)
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