Clock and Plaque 1914-18 1939-45 Institute

On front of village Institute.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled May 1920 by Mrs. J.T. Gardner;
dedicated by Rev. W.F. Cullen, Vicar.

White Sicilian marble.

Plaque cost £90; clock cost £60.

Designed and made by J.G. Brown, Wolsingham

a.
This tablet and clock
are created in honour
of the 126 gallant men
of Frosterley who served in
the Great War 1914-1919
and in memory of the following
who gave their lives.
“Live thou for England
We for England died”

b.
1939-1945
“We will remember them”

Clock with black face and white Roman numerals, at first floor level, above the plaque.

One dial 36 inches in diameter faces the street; another 24 inches in diameter  (91cms and 61cms) faces into the hall.

The plaque is 72 inches high (183cms)  and three inches thick (8cms).

It is decorated with a gun raised in half relief on the left and a sword on the right.

At centre top is a crest set within a laurel wreath raised in half relief.

Below it another plaque has been added for 1939-45.

In the top right and left hand corners is a stylised flower and leaves raised in half relief.

Lettering is incised and blackened using Roman capitals throughout with the quotation in lower case Gothic.

1. All the money had been raised and banked so as to be available for its purpose as soon after the signing of peace as possible.

2. In 1920 in Remembrance Day, in the evening 80 ex-servicemen were entertained in the Institute Hall to a splendid knife and fork supper.

3. In 1920 “A meeting is to be held for the purpose of winding up the ex-servicemen’s fund. “It is to be regretted that the fund is to be closed with a sum totally inadequate to do justice to the men who did so much for their country”.

Photos: John and Mavis Dixon; Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall

Auckland and County Chronicle
29/04/1920; 06/05/1920; 04/03/1920 reports winding up of fund;
18/11/1920 reports Remembrance Day commemorations.

Consett Guardian
07/05/1920 reports unveiling.

Darlington & Stockton Times (South)
08/05/1920 reports unveiling.

Sources of quotations
“Live thou for England . . .” . Part of the couplet used frequently on memorials: “True love by life – True love by Death is tried. / Live thou for England! – We for England died.” Source unknown.
“We will remember them” For the Fallen Lawrence Binyon

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
Ken Heatherington

Ken Heatherington has researched the names on the local memorials. His research is available at Weardale Museum and High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn Co Durham DL13 1HD.

Contact ken.heatherington@btinternet.com