Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 High Street
Reference
C115.03
Place
CORNFORTH
Map ref
NZ 312343
Original Location
High Street. In front of Joseph Hopper Terrace.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled 15/11/1924 by Mr. Richard A. Pease; dedicated by Rev. T.F. Fyffe, Vicar.
b. Unveiled 7/11/1953
b. Unveiled 7/11/1953
Memorial Description
Cross of Celtic wheel type 9 feet high on square tapering plinth This rests on two steps, the upper one of which has a receptacle for flowers at each corner. The whole is raised on a square platform surrounded by grassed area. The names for 1914-18 are listed in three columns on the front in two columns on the sides. The quotation is on the front of the top step.
An additional sloping tablet at the foot of the cross bears the details for 1939-45 with the names listed in three columns.
The lettering is in sans serif capitals.
An additional sloping tablet at the foot of the cross bears the details for 1939-45 with the names listed in three columns.
The lettering is in sans serif capitals.
Materials used
Creetown granite
Inscription
a. In honour and to the memory / of the men of this parish / who gave their lives in the Great War / 1914-1918
“Ye that live on mid English pastures green, / Remember us and think what might have been”.
b. 1939-1945
“Ye that live on mid English pastures green, / Remember us and think what might have been”.
b. 1939-1945
Names
Cost
About £325
How money was raised
Site given by Ecclesiastical Commissioners; public subscription; fund raising by Cornforth Working Party; miners’ and workmen’s lodges also contributed.
Ownership and maintenance
Handed over to Parish Council for upkeep.
Notes
1. The original idea was for an embellished granite column.
2. The site is on a lawn outside Thrislington Colliery Aged Miners Homes, 1925.
3. At the unveiling ceremony, the proceedings were held up for a while because of abuse from a drunken man.
4 The cross was intended “to stand within a 16 feet enclosure, concrete flagged, with iron railings and gate, the base of the cross being raised two steps from the flags”.
5. A collection towards the cost of the memorials was taken at the unveiling. £300 had been raised towards the £325 needed.
6. In 2016 a grant of £1,000 towards restoration work was awarded by War Memorials Trust.
2. The site is on a lawn outside Thrislington Colliery Aged Miners Homes, 1925.
3. At the unveiling ceremony, the proceedings were held up for a while because of abuse from a drunken man.
4 The cross was intended “to stand within a 16 feet enclosure, concrete flagged, with iron railings and gate, the base of the cross being raised two steps from the flags”.
5. A collection towards the cost of the memorials was taken at the unveiling. £300 had been raised towards the £325 needed.
6. In 2016 a grant of £1,000 towards restoration work was awarded by War Memorials Trust.
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: C. Sanders; Simon Raine; E.G. Hurrell, (Cornforth Parish Council); photos of Millennium Heritage Banner 1997 showing the parish of Cornforth with the War Memorial: Janet Brown
Conveyance of land 01/05/1924 by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the site of the memorial.
Durham County Advertiser 18/01/1924 tells of proposals to raise the memorial, and that the Parish Council accept full responsibility for it in the future.
Illustrated Chronicle 13/11/1924 carries photo of memorial to be unveiled on Saturday; 17/11/1924 reports unveiling with photos.
Auckland and County Chronicle 20/11/1924 reports unveiling.
Thrislington, Cornforth and West Cornforth Robin Walton, 1981. (On DCRO shelves)
Source of quotation:
“Ye that live on mid England’s pastures green . . .” (Not ascertained)
Conveyance of land 01/05/1924 by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for the site of the memorial.
Durham County Advertiser 18/01/1924 tells of proposals to raise the memorial, and that the Parish Council accept full responsibility for it in the future.
Illustrated Chronicle 13/11/1924 carries photo of memorial to be unveiled on Saturday; 17/11/1924 reports unveiling with photos.
Auckland and County Chronicle 20/11/1924 reports unveiling.
Thrislington, Cornforth and West Cornforth Robin Walton, 1981. (On DCRO shelves)
Source of quotation:
“Ye that live on mid England’s pastures green . . .” (Not ascertained)
External web link
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; Janet Brown; E.G. Hurrell, Cornforth Parish Council; Andy Denholm; Dorothy Hall; War Memorials Trust
Research In Progress
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 High Street (C115.03)
WEST CORNFORTH High Street.
Front face
In honour and to the memory
of the men of this parish
who gave their lives in the Great War
1914-1918
Bartlett C. Chisholm T.P. Doyle J.
Bell J.G.. Clark T. Dyke G.
Bell J. Close J. Eltringham M.
Blenkinsop A. Cole J. Emmerson W.
Blower E. Cole T. Ferguson H.
Booth R. Cole W. Ferguson T.
Bowman J.D. Connor J. Ferry W.
Bowman W. Crosby T. Fleetham J.
Brown M. Curry S. Freeman R.H.
Buddin Jas. Davis W. Frith R.
Buddin Jos. Dixon J. Furnival G.
Carr W. Dixon W. Glendenning W.
Chatt G. Doran J. Gowland G.W.
--------------------------------------------------------
On front of pedestal
“Ye that live on mid English pastures green,
Remember us and think what might have been”.
--------------------------------------------------------
On sloping panel at foot.
1939 - 1945
Armstrong W. Hardy J.G. Nicholson R.
Bell J. Kay J. Sanderson T.W.
Brewster J. Kennedy R.H. Stubbings W.
Carr W. Kirkley J.G. Smith H.
Cadman L. Kelly J.A. Smith G.
Ellsbury R. Lee D. Smith A.
Elliot F.T. Laverick W. Smith S.
Hare L. Mackenzie R. Poole R.
--------------------------------------------------------
Right face Left face
Gowland J.T. Jennings C.A. Norris E.F. Scorer W.
Gray T. Johnson J.W. North A. Scott W.P.
Green J. Kell M. North J.W. Sheldon T.
Gregory S. Kell T. Partlen J.J. Smith F.
Grint F. Kell T. Peart J. Smith J.
Grint R. Laidler J.G. Price J.W. Steel W.
Hall T. Laverick W. Purdy T. Thirlaway D.T.
Harrison P.M. Liddle C. Purdy W. Todd W.
Henderson R. Lynn J.W. Pyburn J. Todd W.
Heron J.V. MacCullum A. Ridden J. Walton J.G.
Heron R. Moffat G. Robinson E.P. Ward T.
Hill R. Mould A. Robinson G. Wilby J.
Hodgson D. Murray T. Rowcroft W. Wilby W.H.
Hodgson S. Naylor J. Rossiter E. Wilson E.
Hopper J. Neasham J. Rossiter T. Wright G.W.
Hunter J.C. Nelson R. Routledge H. Young J.
James R. Nixon W.
Johnson A. Kirkby W.
NamesC115.03
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Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
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