Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

On north side of the village green on Front Street.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 7th October 1922 by Mr. W.h. Hustler, Chairman of the North Bitchburn Coal Company,in place of Lord Gainford, who sent a telegram regretting his absence.
Dedicated by Rev. J.W. Scudamore, curate of Cockfield.

b. Unveiled 28th November  1948 by Rev. Leslie Thompson, Vicar of Satley.

Kemnay granite

War Memorial Committee.

£253

Public subscription

a.
To the Glory of God
and
in thankful remembrance
of the men
from this parish
who gave their lives
for us
in the Great War
1914-1918.

“Greater love hath no man than this”

b.
1939-1945

Cross on tapering octagonal shaft, total height 13 feet 6 inches (4.1m).

It is on a square pedestal with three steps.

It is set in a raised enclosure about 12 feet square (3.8m) surrounded by a stone wall of three courses on the outer side, two on the inner side, rising to 7 at the corners, with iron chains and small iron gate.

The chain on the south side is missing.

The dedication and names are on the pedestal, the quotation is on the front riser of the top step.

The names for 1939-45 are carried on the riser of the second step at the front, which seems to have been chamfered for the purpose, with the dates set into the corners.

All lettering is in sans serif capitals.

1. A drinking fountain was an original proposition put forward.

2. The siting of the memorial on the village green instead of in the cemetery was passed by 34 votes to 33.

3. “It was a notable record that practically the whole of the 45 men commemorated by the cross volunteered to fight for their country before the introduction of conscription”.

4. At a subsequent meeting, it was announced that the funds had been fully raised. “The cost was £253, the amount raised was £258, and as the expenses amounted to £4 there remained in hand a balance of £1. It was decided to hand this to the Parish Council for the purchase of trees to plant on the green”.

5. The memorial had been renovated in time for the 1939-45 dedication.

6. North Bitchburn Coal Co. owned the Gordon House Colliery where most of the men in the village were employed.

Historic England Listing

Photos: C. Sanders; Simon Raine; Kevin Richardson

Auckland and County Chronicle
15/07/1922;
20/07/1922;
12/10/1922 reports unveiling.

Darlington and Stockton Times (North)
17/07/1922;
14/10/1922 reports unveiling;
03/02/1923 reports all funds had been raised.

Northern Dispatch
30/11/1948 reports dedication for 1939-45.

Northern Echo
09/10/1922 reports unveiling.

Teesdale Mercury
11/10/1922

The People’s History – Gaunless Valley (Tom Hutchinson) carries an early photo.

Source of quotation
“Greater love hath no man . . .” St. John 15 v 13

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Kevin Richardson;
Howard and Christine Jemmeson;
Staff at Clayport Library;
Dorothy Hall

Paul Simpson is researching these names.

Contact: pwsimpson@live.co.uk