Memorial

Fountain 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

Fir Tree

Memorial Name: Fountain 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (F42.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: F42.01

Parish: Fir Tree

Original Location:

Roadside on bend of A68

Present Location:

On the green

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Materials Used:

Sandstone? Granite?

How Money was Raised:

Land given by Mr. T. Hird.

Inscription:

a.
Erected to
the memory
of the men of
the village
of Fir Tree
who made
the supreme
sacrifice in
war

“They live”.

b.
Their name liveth for evermore.

Memorial Description:

Drinking fountain 84 inches high x 24 inches square. (213cms x 61cms)

It rests on a base 120 inches square, (305cms) with two steps, both 6 inches high, (15cms) the top one is 48 inches square, (122cms) the lower one is 72 inches square. (183cms)

The monument is surmounted by an urn with pinnacle on top.

On the sides of the pedestal are sinks for the drinking fountain, of which the fittings are missing.

The dedication is incised on the front of the pedestal using elaborate capitals.

The names are incised on the sides of the pedestal using sans serif capitals.

Names:

a. 12 names and ranks
b. 3 names, ranks and sphere of service.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. “The old photo of the ten ‘Cloth Capped’ Gentlemen around the Fountain has created some debate over the weekend as it is definitely not taken ‘on the green’. This means the memorial has been relocated after c1930, being reduced from four steps to two. The possible previous location is ‘on the bend’ of the A68 adjacent to what is now a disused building, is attached” (David Charlesworth).
This site has now been confirmed by a further old photo. The building beside which it was originally located was demolished in 2010.

2. A holograph list in the hands of John Alderson, local historian, shows that:
a. the name “Trathan” should be “Strathan”. There is no CWGC entry for Trathan. There is one for a Thomas Strathan, which does not show his home address, However his pension records state his mother Mary lived at 1 Harperley Terrace, Fir Tree. On the memorial the Initial “T” of Trathan has been recut.
b. the name of John Mosy is not on the memorial. There is a Johnathon Mosey on the CWGC record, whose parents came from South Moor, Stanley.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: C. Sanders; Simon Raine; David Charlesworth; Dorothy Hall
Old postcard: David Charlesworth: John Grainger; Photo of holograph page: John Alderson

Darlington and Stockton Times
28/02/1920 reports proposals for memorial.

Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Black and white photo taken 1930 by unknown person.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office
No. DR 04380 Flashback No.12

Source of quotation:
“They live”. probably ad hoc “Their name liveth for evermore: Apocrypha, Ecclesiasticus 44 1-15