Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Crossroads

Riding Mill

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Crossroads (R11.02)

NEWMP Ref No.: R11.02

Parish: Riding Mill

Original Location:

At the foot of Whiteside Bank at road junction A68/A693.

Present Location:

Moved to St. James’s Churchyard 1970

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled 24th May (Empire Day) 1921 by Lady Scott and dedicated by Rev. Canon Richmond.

Re-dedicated after the move to the new site on September 13th 1970 by Rev. Bernard Gatman.

Materials Used:

Sandstone from Windy Nook quarries with bronze plates

Cost:

a. £500. (£570 0s 8d collected)

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription

Present Condition: Good

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Messrs. Wm. Dixon & Son, Architects, Riding Mill.

Inscription:

a.
1914-1918
Remember with honour
those who by their death
have ennobled this village.

b.
1939 1945.

Memorial Description:

Cross of Celtic type (“Runic in character”) on stepped pedestal, total height 14 feet (4.3m).

The inscription for 1914-18 is on a bronze plaque on the large plinth.

There is a raised border patterned of knotted ropes.

The names are raised in sans serif capitals, in two columns divided by a vertical central line.

The dedication is in elongated Roman capitals.

The 1939-45 plaque is on the rise of the step below, the names raised in Roman capitals, with the dates 1939 and 1945 in the upper left and right corners, with a knotted Celtic design below.

Names:

a. 14 names with rank and regiment.
b. 7 names with rank.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The site on the North East Corner of the Field on the road leading to Whiteside, at the junction of Hexham and Blanchland roads, was given free of charge by Messrs. W.J. and T. Havelock.

2. August 2023 a soldier figure has been added to the right of the Memorial with Lest we Forget 1918-2018 and 11th November 2018 below.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: P. Thirkell; Paul Graham; Tony Harding; Dorothy Hall; old postcards: Tony Harding; George Nairn

Hexham Weekly News
27/05/1921 reports dedication.

Illustrated Chronicle
18/02/1920 page 6;
25/05/1921 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
21/02/1920 reports proposals;
28/05/1921 reports unveiling

Northern Echo
18/02/1920 reports decision to erect a cross

Imperial War Museum
details, with photographs, and copy of the Service of Unveiling ceremony, and circular letter appealing for funds, sent direct to them by Mrs. M. Cooke of Riding Mill.

Diocese of Newcastle
Faculty No. 3465 12/05/1969 allows siting in St. James following removal from Bywell St. Andrew parish.