Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

Stocksfield

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (S56.03)

NEWMP Ref No.: S56.03

Parish: Stocksfield

Original Location:

Main Road. At side of A695, by Broomley Schools.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled February 12th 1921 by Viscountess Allendale.
b. Unveiled November 1946

Materials Used:

Cornish granite with bronze plaques.

Cost:

£1,020 received and £500 more needed for both cross and nurses’ home (See S56.06)

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription.

Site given by Lord Allendale.

Inscription:

1914 Our Glorious Dead 1918

Memorial Description:

Cross and garden.

The cross of wheel type is decorated with a sword in half relief. It stands on a rough stone pedestal, which rests on two stone steps, total height 10 feet (3m), and base 81 inches x 69 inches (205 cm x 175 cm).

At the base of the shaft is a bronze plaque bearing the names from 1939-45.

The names from 1914-18 are on the front face of the main pedestal, listed in two columns divided by a vertical line. The names are in raised sans serif capitals.

On the riser of the step below is a plaque bearing the words “Our Glorious Dead” in Roman capitals.

Names:

a. 40 full names.
b. 11 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. After the Great War, teak seats were set up round the village bearing brass plaques saying “Welcome Home”. These seats were possibly made from timbers of H.M.S. Britannia, broken up by Hughes Bolckhow at Blyth, and made into various memorials and other furniture.

2. The largest plaque on the cross – the one for 1914-18 – was stolen in March 2008. It has been replaced.

3. On a visit in July 2024 a WW2 seat by David Ogilvie of Kilmarnock has been placed to the right of the memorial.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Phil Thirkell; Paul Graham; Dorothy Hall
photo taken in November 2004: Stocksfield Parish Council

Haltwhistle Echo
18/02/1921 reports unveiling of cross

Hexham Courant
13/03/1920 lists names for public approval.
23/02/1996 feature 75 years ago mentions the unveiling of the war memorial;
15/11/1996 feature 75 years ago reports unveiling;
22/11/1996 feature 50 years ago reports unveiling of WWII plaque.

Illustrated Chronicle
14/02/1921 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
13/03/1920 reports cross is nearing completion;
07/11/1921 reports fund raising event.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
19/02/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
14/02/1921 reports unveiling

The Journal
26/10/1998 tells story of Joseph Bright in Note 2 above;
11/03/2008 reports theft of plaque;
19/03/2008 reports promise of help towards a replacement.

A Pleasant retreat Bywell, Stocksfield and District Millennium 2000 Robert Browell and Dennis Harding. ISBN 0952588897 inc. biographical details of some of the names.

Micelee: the tale of a Northumbrian village Ivan Seymour; Pentland Press, 2000 reports the setting up of seats notes above.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 02 14 Mon -1921

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Paul Graham (Prudhoe Local History Society);
Philip Thirkell;
Janet Brown;
Michael Newrick;
Colin N. Dallison;
Broomley and Stocksfield Parish Council;
Tony Harding;
Margaret Williams, Parish Clerk;
Dorothy Hall