Cross 1914-18 St. John the Baptist’s Churchyard

St. John the Baptist Church.

North east corner of graveyard.

1914-18

Unveiled 27th July 1924 by Hon. Arthur Joicey of Longhirst.
Dedicated by Rev. P.C. Fielding, Vicar.

Restored memorial unveiled 4th November 2018.
Rededicated 11th November 2018 by Bishop Mark Tanner of Berwick on Tweed

Granite

War Memorial Committee

Public subscription

Designed by W.R. Rochester; made by Maile Ltd., Euston Rd., London.
Restored by Art of Stone, Blyth.

To the
glory of God
and
in
honoured memory of
the men of the Parish of Ulgham
who fell in the Great War
1914-1918
(Names)
“The men were very good unto us and we were not hurt,
They were a wall unto us both by night and day”
(Name)

Cross of Celtic type 8 feet high (2.5m), tapering gently on a tapered pedestal, and resting on two steps 60 inches  x 42 inches (153cm x 106cm).

The dedication starts at the bottom of the cross and carries down onto the pedestal.

The quotation is on the riser of the top step.

Another name has been added below this.

Lettering is in sans serif capitals.

1. In 2017 it was noticed that the cross was leaning slightly. The decision was taken that the whole memorial should be repaired and turned through 180 degrees so that names faced into the churchyard. This was because the road is narrow and not only on a bus route but is also on the designated coast road. People standing in the road would be between two narrow hilly bends, and it was felt by all that it would be safer to hold services in the churchyard. The St.John the Baptist Parochial Church Council, Ulgham Parish Council, Ulgham Village Association, East Stobswood and Widdrington Parish Council, Northumberland County Council all agreed that this would be a sensible and safe move.. A Faculty was obtained.

The War Memorials Trust gave a small grant for survey purposes but would not allow a grant for the repairs involving the 180 degree turn because the people who erected in 1923 wanted it to face the road.

2.   In 1967: “Twelve rose trees which are being planted round a war memorial at Ulgham, Northumberland, are to be tended by an expert. Mr. W. Robson, former head gardener of the late Sir Charles Trevelyan and a specialist on rose-growing, has undertaken to maintain the tree for the Widdrington and Stobswood branch of the British Legion. Relatives of war victims, and all ex-servicemen and women, are invited by the branch to attend a planting ceremony at the memorial at 3 p.m. on Saturday”.

Historic England Listing

Photos: Janet Brown; photograph of unveiling ceremony: Janet Brown

Illustrated Chronicle
28/07/1924 carries photo of unveiling.

Morpeth Herald
01/08/1924 reports unveiling;
22/11/2018 reports rededication.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle
02/11/1967 reports planning of rose trees in Note 2 above. (Available on The British Newspaper Archive)

Source of quotation
“The men were very good unto us . . .” 1 Samuel 25 15, 16

Janet Brown;
Philip Thirkell;
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall;
George Brown

If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk