Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

Wolviston

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside (W129.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: W129.01

Parish: Wolviston

Original Location:

Roadside.

On a triangular site in the road in the centre of the village leading from the Green to the High Street, near its junction with Lax Terrace on the north side.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. Unveiled 19th February 1921 by Capt. Roland B. Webster,
dedicated by Rev. M. Brack, Vicar of Wolviston.

Materials Used:

“Old English stone”

Who Commissioned:

War Memorial Committee

Cost:

a. Not known;
b. Names carved in 1957 for £12.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Messrs. Bowman & Son, Norton Road, Stockton.

Inscription:

a.
To the mem
ory of the
men of this
parish who
fell in the
Great War

b.
To the mem
ory of the
men of this
parish who
fell in Wo
rld War

Memorial Description:

Cross of sacrifice, height 15 feet, with octagonal shaft on octagonal four-tier pedestal with concrete path round it at the base.

The dedication and names are carried on the faces of the pedestal, the names for 1914-18 are in a single column on each of three faces, those for 1939-45 in a single column on another panel.

The lettering is in elongated Roman capitals throughout.

The triangular site is planted with two bushes and rose trees and the whole is surrounded by a 3 feet high white painted fence with a flagpole in the corner nearest to the village green.

Names:

a. 23 surnames and initials.
b. 5 surnames and initials.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. £6 was spent on four new posts and painting in 1946.

2. A letter from a young member Doris May Dawson from Wolviston in the Northern Weekly Gazette 02/04/1921 reads:-
There was a service in the church at three o’clock, all the seats were occupied, and some people were standing which made it a full church. The monument was unveiled by Captain Webster after the service and the clergyman said a few words in memory of the fallen. The relatives put wreaths round the monument and then the last post was sounded. There were also some photographers taking the photo of the monument.

3. In 2004, the proposal was being made to add three further names to the memorial in time for Nov.11th. Two names were added.

External Links:

Men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment
Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall

Darlington & Stockton Times
12/02/1921 reports proposed unveiling; 26/02/1921 reports unveiling.

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail
21/02/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Weekly Gazette
02/04/1921 letter from Doris May Dawson

Stockton & Teesside Herald
26/02/1921 reports unveiling.

Stockton Reference Library
Billingham U.D.C. Minutes 1945-6 pages 602, 309, 213.