Clock Tower 1914-18 1939-45 Town Square

Coquet Street / Lawson Street, Amble

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Foundation stone laid in May 1924 by Mr. R.C. McInnes, town’s oldest inhabitant.
Memorial unveiled Saturday May 9th, 1925 by Major Vernon Merivale, M.C., of Radcliffe.

Stone with bronze.

Amble War Memorial Committee

a. Estimated at £2,100.
The cost of the memorial £1,390 11 shillings 9 pence; clock £267; sculpturing the names £72 10 shillings; incidentals £180 11 shillings 10 pence.

a. Public subscription; fund raising events, inc. the making of quilts; land valued at £600 donated by Mr. E.M. Lawson-Smith, Colton Lodge, Tadcaster.
At the unveiling, £50-£60 was still outstanding. By the time of winding up, £1939 3 shillings 6 pence had been received

Designed by William Burton, ARSJ., MSJA., Surveyor to Amble Urban District Council.
Built by R. Carse and Sons, Amble.
Sculptors, Messrs. Whittle & Sons, Amble.
Clockmakers, W. Potts & Sons, Leeds.

a. North face, left hand plaque
To the
Glory of God
and
in memory of
the men of Amble
who fell in
the Great War
1914-1918

North face, right hand plaque
The site
for this memorial
was given by
E.M. Lawson-Smith Esq.
in memory of
his two sons
who fell in
the Great War.

On east and west faces
Their names shall be held in
everlasting remembrance

b.
North face, bottom plaque
Also of those who fell in the war 1939-45

1. Site of memorial

2. Clock tower of squared stone with ashlar dressings; white marble panels 60 inches high x 48 inches wide (154cms x 121cms) with leaded inscriptions; wrought iron dwarf rails. Slender square three-staged tower. Three-stepped base carries tower with angle pilasters, stepped-and-chamfered plinths and moulded strings. Dwarf rails with knob-topped twist standards and twist rails link front faces of pilasters.
Lower stage : north face has twin panels 37 inches high x 21 inches wide (123cms x 83.5cms) in recessed chamfered surrounds (bearing inscriptions) with inserted World War II plaque 22 inches high x 53½ inches wide (56cms x 136cms) below; side faces have panels with names of fallen; boarded door to rear.
Second stage has tall slatted square-headed openings and top stage clock-faces in keyed surrounds. Parapet has moulded coping and square pyramid-topped finials at corners.
Plaques on east and west faces are each 49 inches high x 33 inches wide (124cms x 84cms).
Lettering is incised and blackened using elaborate capitals throughout.

1. The site is also a War Memorial, see above under “Inscription”

2. In “Amble the Friendliest Port” , Paul Morrison tells of captured German guns to be displayed as trophies but were rejected by local men who threw them into a quarry.

3. A meeting of Ex-Servicemen in 1923 protested at the form the monument was to take, considering it to be unsuitable; they proposed calling a public meeting to discuss holding a referendum, and they recommended a delay on the present proposals pending the referendum. At the meeting, held a few days later, it was agreed that they ask the War Memorials Committee to change the scheme, and a recreation park was suggested.

4. In a sealed cavity behind the foundation stone were placed the following coins of the realm 1 gold sovereign, 1 half sovereign, 1 silver 5 shilling piece, 1 silver 2 shilling and 6 pence piece, 1 silver 2 shilling piece, 1 silver shilling, 1 silver 6 pence piece, 1 silver 3 pence piece, 1 bronze penny, 1 bronze halfpenny, and 1 bronze farthing. Also buried were a copy of Sir Philip Gibbs’ book “The Soul of the War”; an autographed letter from Sir Philip Gibbs; “Daily News” 25/04/1915; list of names of War Memorial Committee; names of contractors; name of architect; name of sculptor; name of donor of site; name of clockmakers;

5. The donor of the site, Mr. E.M. Lawson Smith of Tadcaster, had lost two sons during the war.

6. The idea for the clock tower came from Mr. Tully.

7. Following the winding-up proceedings, the books were handed to the secretary of the War Memorial Committee.

8. At the unveiling, more money needed to be raised. A line of pennies was started to raise the funds.

9. In 1919, Capt. Esson reported that there is now no need to carry on with funds for the Amble Soldiers and Sailors’ Dependents’ Treat. He thanked all who helped him give treats to the children. He now wished to throw his efforts into raising £100 towards the costs of a war memorial. He proposed a Fancy Dress party for December 17th. He had already held a whist drive which resulted in £12 11 shillings 8 pence. He now only need £87 8 shillings 4 pence to achieve the £100.

10. The names were restored in 1988 after the County Architect’s Survey. The gates and walls were also repaired. In the year 2000, a revamp of the area around the Clock Tower was started. It involved removing the building opposite to open up into a square. In the memorial garden itself, the over-large hedges were removed, opening up the area. The surrounding wall, which outlines the garden given by Mr. Lawson, was retained. A signpost pointing to the memorial garden was erected.

11. In 2016 the memorial underwent more repairs to damage caused by five footballs and a tennis ball.

Historic England – Clock Tower
Historic England – Garden and Gates
Amble’s War Memorials
Northumberland Gazette15/04/2016

Photos: Janet Brown, P. Thirkell; D. Riches; photo of 1948 unveiling of WWII plaque: John Anderson; photos of revamped area: Janet Brown; old postcards: Tony Harding; John S. Perry

Alnwick & County Gazette
27/11/1920 reports that Capt. Esson promised to raise £100;
17/09/1921 reports fundraising;
05/11/1921 reports £3,845 needed, of which £1,230 had been raised.

Illustrated Chronicle
12/05/1924 and 17/02/1925 have photos of clock under construction;
11/05/1925 reports unveiling and line of pennies.

Morpeth Herald
28/11/1919 and 1920 passim reports various fund raising activities;
02/04/1920 reports that Sgt. John Weddell had been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field of battle;
12/08/1921 reports proposed fund raising bazaar;
18/11/1921 reports entertainment for those running the bazaar;
14/09/1923 carries advertisement for tenders for erecting the clock;
21/09/1923 and 28/09/1923 record the recommendation to change the form the memorial would take;
16/05/1924 reports laying of foundation stone and contents of sealed cavity;
13/06/1924 reports flag day;
20/02/1925 reports that a picture of the memorial has appeared in a London Newspaper;
15/05/1925 reports unveiling ceremony, with picture of the clock tower;
03/09/1926 reports completion.

Newcastle Daily Journal
20/07/1920 reports fund raising;

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
17/05/1924 records placing of records in the tower.

Northumberland Gazette
15/04/2016 reports on repairs. See link above.

Shields Daily News
08/09/1921 contains press report of fund-raising bazaar.

Morpeth County Library
Frith collection of photographs; Postcard collection

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 760378 or email hotconcrete@aol.com)

Traditional Quilting Mavis FitzRandolph page 131 tells of “various church quilt clubs in Amble (who) were working hard to raise funds for the War memorial in 1918” who sent their material away to Hexham to be ‘stamped’ other wise they would never have got them all done in time.

David Wilkinson,
Jim Shepherd (East Coquet Local History Society);
P. Thirkell;
Ralph W. Gould;
Janet Brown;
George Young;
Michael Newrick;
John Hardy;
Dorothy Hall;
Julie Lilburn and Elaine Brown (Amble Development Trust)

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