Memorial

Gates Benson 1901 Abbey Grounds

Hexham

Memorial Name: Gates Benson 1901 Abbey Grounds (H51.16)

NEWMP Ref No.: H51.16

Parish: Hexham

Original Location:

Beaumont Street

Which War:

South Africa 1899-1902

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

1912

Materials Used:

Iron (steel?) gates, bronze plaques.

Who Commissioned:

T.W. Benson, Esq.

How Money was Raised:

Private donation

Inscription:

Left hand gate:
These gates
were presented by
T.W. Benson, Esq.
of Allerwash,
who also by his generous
contribution, enabled
the Town of Hexham
to acquire these grounds
as a public park.
1912.

Right hand side:
These gates
were erected
by
T.W. Benson, Esq.,
of Allerwash
in memory of his brother
Colonel G.E. Benson
1912.

Memorial Description:

Gateway and ornamental gates leading into the Abbey grounds.

The whole memorial is about 50 feet (15.3m) wide, the double main gates are 122 inches high x 72 inches wide (310cms x 183cms) and the smaller pedestrian gates are 98 inches high x 52 inches wide (250cms x 132cms).

These are flanked each side by a low curving wall with ornamental railings.

Bronze plaques are mounted on the two main gateposts, oval in shape, in the form of laurel wreaths.

The inscriptions on the plaques are in raised lettering, unpainted, using sans serif and Roman lettering, but are cast in a way as to vary the size of the lettering, which gives the appearance of being distorted as if viewed through a magnifying glass.

Names:

See above.

Notes:

See Every Name a Story entry

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photo: C.N. Dallison; old postcards: John S. Perry

Hexham Courant
10/02/1912; 09/03/1912; 06/04/1912; 08/06/1912; 06/07/1912;
Opening 10/08/1912.

Morpeth County Library
Postcard collection