Memorial 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

Radcliffe

Amble Town Square, Coquet Street/Lawson Street

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Rededicated 3rd November 2013

Ashlar with marble.

a.
In memory of
the men of Radcliffe
who fell in
the Great War 1914-1918.
(Names)
Also of those who have since died
as a result of their war service.
Loved, Honoured, remembered.

b.
In memory of
the members of H.M. Forces
who fell in the war, 1939-45.
(Names)

Monument of ashlar with white marble panel.

Two stepped base carries upright block with moulded plinth and inscribed panel in moulded surround.

At centre top is a wreath raised in half relief.

Two plaques carry the names:
the larger one for 1914-18 is 42½ inches high x 27½ inches wide (108cms x 70cms);
the smaller one for 1939-45 is 15½ inches high x 29 inches wide (39cms x 74cms).

The names are listed in two columns. The lettering is incised and filled with lead using elaborate capitals.

1. Radcliffe was a pit-mining village 2 km south of Amble which was demolished in advance of open cast mining. In 1971 the memorial was moved to its present site in Amble, and the people were rehoused in estates in Amble.

2. The whole garden at Amble in which this is situated was completely cleared of bushes and trees. New rose beds and a complete new layout were built for the year 2000, opened 2001.

3. The Chapel of the Good Shepherd was bombed in 1942 by a landmine. In 1955 new choir stalls were purchased by Radcliffe worshippers and dedicated as a memorial to the destroyed building.

4. The base of the former memorial in the village is still to be seen by the west side of the main road before entering Radcliffe. The memorial itself was removed to Amble and placed beside the Clock Tower. Presumably this site was left simply because the main part of the village removed by the opencast coal workings was on the opposite – east – side of the road. The remains of the former memorial include the bases of the wing walls with wrought iron railings. It is surrounded by bushes. Affixed to one gatepost is a plaque dedicated to Mr. Wade. He lived in Radcliffe, but moved abroad. When he died, he wished his ashes to be scattered at Radcliffe, not realising the village was no longer there. The family decided to scatter his ashes at the base of the former war memorial site. A local lady, a relative of the family, tends the site about four times a year. There are wreaths and cards dedicated to Mr. Wade, who died in 1996.

5. There are plans to restore this memorial in 2013.

6. The back of the postcard from George Nairn reads – The memorial is at the end of Leslie Row in the burn field.

Historic England Listing
Research on the names on Radcliffe memorial

Photos: J. Brown, P. Thirkell; Postcard of memorial in original position at Radcliffe: George Nairn

Morpeth Herald
15/05/1925 reports fund raising

Northumberland Gazette
23/12/2004 reports date of rededication at new site following research by local councillor Audrey Jones. It took place on 5th May 1928 by Hugh Liddell in uniform following the resiting at Amble.

By the Green of the Spring – A tribute to the men of Chevington and Broomhill who served in the First World War. J.H. Hardy, published Amble Social History Group. (£7 inc. p&p Contact John Hardy 01670 760 378 or email hotconcrete@aol.com)

A Story of Amble. It’s Beginnings and Developments with a tribute to Radcliffe David Wilkinson and Paul G. Morrison B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. Amble Town Council, 1985.

The Ambler
Amble’s Community Newsletter Issue 77 October/November 2012 reports proposal in Note 5.

David Wilkinson, East Coquet Local History Society;
Janet Brown;
George Nairn

Warkworth web site includes details about the Radcliffe War Memorial names both WW1 and WW2. Contact via the Warkworth Website