Memorial Details

Memorial Institute 1914-18

W48.05

WHITTINGHAM

NU 070119

Beside church of St. Bartholomew in Church View.

1914-18

Foundation stone laid 11th June 1924 by Lord Ravensworth; Hall opened by Lord Ravensworth 13th April 1925.

Whittingham Memorial Institute, stone building with slated roof, comprising a large room on the south side with a stage at the west end, two smaller rooms behind, a kitchen, games room and cloakrooms on the north side. There is accommodation for 300 people.
A stone plaque bears the dedication.

Stone building with slate roof.

None

Whittingham Memorial Institute Committee

£1,615/12/-

Public subscription.

Good. Restored 2009

Builder: Mr. George Johnson.
Architect: Mr. A. Hunter

1. When the cross (W48.03) was finally dedicated, the full sum still had not been raised. But this memorial was in addition to others, see W48.04.

2. The villages of Whittingham and Glanton each had its own Committee, but worked jointly to raise funds, dividing the proceeds eventually to provide their own memorials. Lord Ravensworth provided the land free of charge at Whittingham.

3. A Field Day raised the total to £880, which Lord Ravensworth topped up to £1,000.

4. A bazaar was held in the building immediately after the official opening.

5. One of the men who served from Whittingham was Bob Renwick, who joined the 16th KRRC. On June 1996 he was aged 100 and was one of the oldest men still alive to have survived the Battle of the Somme. (The Journal 27/06/1996)

6. The ceremony at which the inscription stone was placed by Lord Ravensworth was “of a Masonic character, and was carried out by officers of the craft, with a dispensation from the Grand Master of Northumberland (Col. C.W. Napier Clavering)”. Lord Ravensworth, of Eslington Hall, was the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Durham.
In a cavity in the inscription stone, a phial was laid, containing silver coins, and a parchment scroll with the inscription “ This hall is erected in grateful memory of the loyalty and devotion of those who served their country in the Great War, 1914-1918, and the memorial stone was laid by Gerald Wellesley, sixth Baron Ravensworth, on St. Barnabas Day, June 11, 1924.”
“His Lordship then struck the stone with the trowel, at each of the four corners, after which, symbols of the craft – plumb-line, rule, level and square – were applied by officers of the Order”.
“Consecrating elements of corn, wine, oil and salt were sprinkled on the stone by Lord Ravensworth.”

7. Lord Ravensworth was presented with the silver trowel as a memento of the occasion.

Photos: Janet Brown; Tony Harding; old postcard of stone laying ceremony June 1924: John S. Perry

Whittingham Memorial Institute Committee Minute Books etc.

Alnwick & County Gazette 02/06/1923 reports fund raising

Alnwick & County Gazette & Guardian 14/07/1923 reports acceptance of plans from Mr. A. Hunter of Whittingham.

Illustrated Chronicle 14/04/1925 reports official opening with photos.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle 14/06/1924 describes the Masonic element of the foundation laying ceremony; 18/04/1925 reports official opening.

Morpeth Herald 01/08/1919 reports second meeting re memorial

South Shields Gazette 12/06/1924 reports laying of foundation stone.

Morpeth Herald 1919 08 01 Fri

Aln & Breamish Local History Society; Whittingham Memorial Institute Committee; the late Miss Mary Brown for loan of "Records and Recollections"; Miss E. Hunter, Whittingham; J. Brown; John S. Perry; Dorothy Hall; Michael Mulhern

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

 

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