Memorial Details
Memorial
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village
Reference
R51.01
Place
ROOKHOPE
Map ref
NY 938428
Original Location
Centre of the village, on a roadside site.
Which war
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
b. 1939-45
Dedication, Creation or Publication date
a. Unveiled December 1921 by Col. Gray of Stanhope, dedicated by Rev. H.G. Shaddick
Memorial Description
Cross of wheeled type 7 feet high on three square stone bases, bottom one 6 feet x 5 feet, standing on a raised area with garden enclosed by railings with a gate. Total height approx. 14 feet. The cross has a sword superimposed in half relief. The dedication is in a panel at the base of the shaft.
The names of those who fell in both wars are on the front of the monument, in an irregular shaped panel smoothed out of the rough stone. The names of those who returned from 1914-18 are on the three remaining sides.
The details of the erection of the memorial are contained in another panel at the base of the memorial. Lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals throughout.
The names of those who fell in both wars are on the front of the monument, in an irregular shaped panel smoothed out of the rough stone. The names of those who returned from 1914-18 are on the three remaining sides.
The details of the erection of the memorial are contained in another panel at the base of the memorial. Lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals throughout.
Materials used
Granite
Inscription
a. For Home and Country. / Erected to the memory of the / men from this parish who / served in the Great War / 1914-18. / Those who fell (Names)
b. In memory of the men who / served in the World War 1939-1945 / Killed in action.
b. In memory of the men who / served in the World War 1939-1945 / Killed in action.
Names
Sculptor, Artist or Designer
Made by Aves of Hexham
Notes
1. One of the initial proposals for the memorial was a village hall costing £2,000, but was rejected as being too expensive.
A newspaper carried a letter which reads: “What has become of the proposed war memorial for Rookhope soldiers? Some time ago a public meeting was called, but very few people took the trouble to attend. The Committee then reported that the cost of the proposed Village Hall would be about £2,000. Seeing that it would be next to impossible to raise such a sum in the village, would it not be wise to drop such a big scheme and go in for the erection of a substantial memorial stone or cross, on which could be recorded the names of our gallant Rookhope men?”
2. In the summer of 1914 a small band of young men volunteered for service with the local Territorial Company. When war broke out this group formed part of the 100 from Weardale who signed on.
3. Mr. Willis, managing director of the Weardale Lead Company, was unable to be present at the unveiling ceremony because of a severe head cold. He had been largely instrumental in securing the gift of the site for the memorial.
3. William Dent Oliver was a teacher at Windyhaugh, near Alnwick. W103
A newspaper carried a letter which reads: “What has become of the proposed war memorial for Rookhope soldiers? Some time ago a public meeting was called, but very few people took the trouble to attend. The Committee then reported that the cost of the proposed Village Hall would be about £2,000. Seeing that it would be next to impossible to raise such a sum in the village, would it not be wise to drop such a big scheme and go in for the erection of a substantial memorial stone or cross, on which could be recorded the names of our gallant Rookhope men?”
2. In the summer of 1914 a small band of young men volunteered for service with the local Territorial Company. When war broke out this group formed part of the 100 from Weardale who signed on.
3. Mr. Willis, managing director of the Weardale Lead Company, was unable to be present at the unveiling ceremony because of a severe head cold. He had been largely instrumental in securing the gift of the site for the memorial.
3. William Dent Oliver was a teacher at Windyhaugh, near Alnwick. W103
Newspaper cuttings, photos or archival material
Photos: Simon Raine; C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall
Auckland and County Chronicle 18/12/1921; 21/10/1921 carries the letter in Note 1 above; 8/12/291 reports unveiling.
Darlington and Stockton Times 10/12/1921 reports unveiling.
Weardale Museum Folder containing information on local war memorials.
Auckland and County Chronicle 18/12/1921; 21/10/1921 carries the letter in Note 1 above; 8/12/291 reports unveiling.
Darlington and Stockton Times 10/12/1921 reports unveiling.
Weardale Museum Folder containing information on local war memorials.
External web link
Links to Source Material :
Research acknowledgements
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale; C. Sanders; John and Mavis Dixon; Ken Heatherington; Dorothy Hall
Research In Progress
Ken Heatherington has researched the names on the local memorials. His research is available at Weardale Museum and High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn Co Durham DL13 1HD. www.weardalemuseum.org.uk
Opening Hours 2pm - 5pm, Easter and Bank Holidays, May, June, July, Sept, and October (Wednesday to Sunday inclusive). Every afternoon in August.
Contact ken.heatherington@btinternet.com
Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Village (R51.01)
ROOKHOPE
For Home and Country
Erected to the memory of the
men from this parish who
served in the Great War
1914-18
Those who fell
Richard Bell Adamson
Robert Hodgson Adamson
John Christopher Baty
John Edward Forster
Fred Kirton Herbert Lowery
Walter Dent Oliver
Robert William Patterson
John Edward Potts
Robert William Robinson
Thomas Sparke William Swinhoe
----------------------------------------------
Right side Rear
Those who returned Those who returned
J.E. Adamson M. Coates I. Hogarth
J.G. Adamson E.J. Dixon W. Hogarth
T.C. Adamson J.E. Forster M.W. Kennedy
J.J. Adamson G.H. Forster C. Lowery
G.V. Baty G.W. Baty C.F. Gardiner G. Lowe
J.W. Bowman W.J. Gardiner H. Myers
S. Brown R.E. Heward J.W. Murray
J.D. Brown J.W. Brown T.E. Heward J.P. Maddison
E. Coulthard R.J. Hogarth J.E. Maddison
Left Side
Those who returned
A. Oliver
H.V. Philipson
T.B. Patterson
A.H. Patterson
J.R. Patterson
R.B. Reed W. Reed
R.W. Reed
T.H. Robinson
F. Stokoe J. Wall
J.N. Ward
W. Westgarth
-------------------------------------------------------------
Front Lower Plinth
In memory of the men who
served in the World War 1939-1945
Killed in action.
George Walton (Airborne)
Died
Isaac Hogarth
John J. Dawson
Names R51.01
You are looking at all the information and the best images we have so far on this memorial. If you can supply more information or better images please get in touch by sending an email to enquiries@newmp.org.uk.
Parish Notes
Every Name A Story
The British Library is preserving this site for the future in the UK Web Archive at www.webarchive.org.uk
Copyright 2013, North East War Memorials Project. Registered Charity No. 1113088
Another Effective Group Website