Memorial

Memorial Hall 1914-18 1939-45

Thropton

Memorial Name: Memorial Hall 1914-18 1939-45 (T16.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: T16.01

Parish: Thropton

Original Location:

On main village street.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Foundation stone laid 2nd August 1920 by Lady Armstrong.
Hall opened and plaque unveiled 6th December 1924 by Maj. Gen. Sir C.L. Nicholson, K.C.B., C.M.G.

Materials Used:

Originally timber (1920) now stone (1924)

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee

Cost:

About £1,100

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription and fund raising events. Lord Armstrong had already provided the site.

Present Condition: Restoration work done in 2009

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Designed and built by Messrs. Geo. Nichol and Co., Thropton.
Heating and lighting installed by Mr. J. Laidler of Rothbury.

Inscription:

1914 The glorious dead 1918
(Names)
Behold we count them happy which endure. James V 11.

b. 1939-1945

Memorial Description:

Memorial Hall.

The hall seats 250, with a large concert platform, and there were two other small rooms.

It was lit by acetylene gas lamps and heated by hot water.

The War Memorial part is the extension at the west end of the Recreation Hall already provided by Lord Armstrong and opened by him in August 1920.

The names from 1914-18 are inscribed in stone (in the past this was behind a glass panel) above the porch door, the names incised in three columns painted black and using sans serif capitals throughout.

The panel is long and narrow, with rounded corners, set into a rectangular stone.

Those from 1939-45 are on a panel to left of porch doorway, the panel being a smaller echo of the one above.

Names:

a. 17 full names.
b. 5 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. Lord Armstrong had provided the original hall, an army hut, which he opened in August 1920. This was now to be converted into a reading room and a billiards room.

2. Lord Armstrong also provided a full sized billiards table.

3. Restoration and upgrading were proposed for 2005.

4. “The hall is a spacious wooden building, with suitable annexes, on to which it is proposed to build a stone hall”.

5. After the opening of the hall, a bazaar was held to raise funds.

Sources:

Photos: J. Brown; Phil Thirkell; Tony Harding; Sydney Graham

Alnwick & County Gazette
21/08/1920 reports opening of original hall on 18/8/1920.

Morpeth Herald
13/06/1919 reports initial meeting;
31/10/1919 reports progress with raising funds;
07/11/1919 reports fund raising;
06/02/1920 reports fund raising efforts;
27/08/1920 says that the west end would be added later;
28/11/1924 reports proposed unveiling;
12/12/1924 reports opening and unveiling ceremony.

Illustrated Chronicle
19/08/1920 reports proposals for a hall;
8/12/1924 reports opening of hall with photos.

.Journal
25/05/2005 includes letter re fund raising for repairs.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
19/08/1920 reports opening.

North Mail
19/08/1920 reports opening