Memorial

Colliery Institute 1914-18

Choppington

Memorial Name: Colliery Institute 1914-18 (C36.06)

NEWMP Ref No.: C36.06

Parish: Choppington

Original Location:

Scotland Gate

Present Location:

Rebuilt

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Opened Saturday March 31st 1923 (?24th April 1923) by Mr. F.C. Hallowes, agent of Bebside Coal Co. and Choppington Colliery.

Materials Used:

Red brick building.

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee

Cost:

£7,000

How Money was Raised:

Erected jointly by owners and workmen of the Colliery.
Site given by Coal Coy. with a supply of materials to the value of £500,
£750 from Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation Scheme (CISWO)

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Ald. George Dunn, engineer to the Coal Co.

Inscription:

1923 Choppington Colliery War Memorial 1914-1919

Memorial Description:

Colliery Institute and Hall.

This comprises a large room on the top floor for concerts, and downstairs a billiards room and news room, etc.

Heated by hot water and with electric light.

Over the entrance was a marble slab bearing the inscription.

Names:

None.

Notes:

1. Mr. Norman Brown reports that he has a certificate which was presented to Mr. Joseph Yeaman by the Choppington Colliery War Memorial Committee for services rendered in connection with the Memorial in April 1923.

2. Addresses at the unveiling were given John Cairns, M.P.; Andrew McHugh, County Councillor; Rev.J. Burdon, Vicar of Choppington;

3. At a ceremony on April 7th 1923, Ald. Geo. Dunn, Architect, was presented with and easy chair and silver coffee pot and jug. Mr.Yeames, Clerk of Works, was given a gold watch.

4. A parchment Roll of Honour was proposed.

5. Structural problems were met in the 1950s which meant that 20% of the building, including the southern end of the building and the main entrance had to be demolished. This was when the inscription above the doorway was removed and subsequently lost.

6. The old hall was completely rebuilt with Lottery funding in 2000.

Sources:

Photo of old building: J. Brown

Alnwick & County Gazette
21/08/1920 reports that building is going up.

Illustrated Chronicle
02/04/1923 reports official opening.

Morpeth Herald
23/06/1922 reports proposals for a monument;
20/04/1923 reports opening;
20/02/1925 advertises for names for a parchment Roll of Honour.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
21/06/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
19/08/1920 reports that institute is in course of erection.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
07/04/1923 reports opening.

Northern Echo
21/08/1920 announces that the institute will be built at Scotland Gate.

North Mail
19/08/1920 reports hall in process of erection.

History of Choppington Welfare Centre by John Dawson.

Bedlington Revisited Feb 2003 and March 2003, published by Six Townships Publications.