Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

Egglescliffe Village, Egglescliffe Bank, Stockton-on-Tees, Tees Valley, TS16 9BX.

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled August 1921 by Colonel Spence D.S.O.

Marble, ?sandstone.

a.
1914
1919
To the glory of God and in
memory of the men of this
parish who fell in the Great War

b.
1939
1945
Also those who fought in the 2nd World War

These have been replaced by:
To the glory of God and in memory
of the men from this parish who
fell in the Great Wars.

Cross of Latin type on top of tall pillar, total height 7 feet (2.1m), standing on a wide pedestal with ornamental sides.

This stands on a double platform on a paved area approached by three steps.

The dates are raised in a sunken cartouche at the foot of the stem of the cross.

The dedication is carried on a black marble plaque 15 inches high x 42 inches wide (380mm x 1.07m) fixed to the front of the pedestal.

The names are carried in three columns in sans serif capitals.

Below this, carved into the stone is the dedication for 1914-18 in elaborate capitals.

The names for 1939-45 appear in sans serif capitals on the sloping shoulder of the pedestal below this, with the dates on either side raised in a sunken cartouche.

The enclosure has a railed fence around three sides.

Since restoration in 2005, the names for the two main wars are on a single slate slab, placed on the front of the pedestal.

The names for 1914-18 are in two columns on the left, while those for 1939-45 occupy the right hand column.

Below them, on the rise of the top step, is the dedication.

All lettering is incised using sans serif capitals..

1. In 1988, a newspaper reports how vandals sawed through a wooden seat and ripped up metal barriers 24 hours after Council workmen had cemented them into the ground.

2. Restored 1988, with the replacement of crumbling stonework and removal of graffiti at a cost of £1,800, for some reason the lettering was omitted.

3. The placing of the memorial was decided as being near the church but not too near that non-Protestants could object.

4. In 2005 there were plans to create a war memorial garden near the war memorial.

Information on men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment
Historic England Listing.

Photos: Simon Raine; C. Sanders

Darlington and Stockton Times
12/09/2003 reports completion of work by Dave Bell and Norman Revell

Northern Echo
29/07/2005 reports proposals for war memorial garden;
25/09/2006 reports two names to be added to the memorial.

North Star (Darlington)
30/08/1921 photo of the unveiling

Durham County Record Office
Booklet called “A Brief Account of Egglescliffe men who fought in the Great War 1914-1918” Ref. EP/Eg 154 .
Black/white pen and ink sketch of proposed memorial by Elsa M. Hood, October 1919

Simon Raine;
C.Sanders;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance

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