Memorial

Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Brandon Churchyard

Brancepeth

Memorial Name: Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Brandon Churchyard (B151.01)

NEWMP Ref No.: B151.01

Parish: Brancepeth

Original Location:

Near the porch of St. Brandon’s Parish Church.

Which War:

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

a. 2nd June 1921 by Lt.Col. Hugh Bowes, T.D., D.L.
Dedicated by Ven. P.A. Archdeacon Derry.

Materials Used:

Heworth stone

Cost:

£120

How Money was Raised:

Stone given by Viscount Boyne.
£120 raised by public subscription.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Inscription:

a.
The Great War 1914-1918

b.
Our Glorious Dead 1939-1945

Memorial Description:

Cross, total 17 feet 3 inches feet high (5.3m), ornate, on slim octagonal column on square base, buttressed at the corners, on two tapering steps.

The whole is set on three steps, the base measuring 108 inches x 102 inches (274cms x 259cms).

The dedication is carried on the front face of the main pedestal.

The names are incised in a single column into the other faces, those for 1914-18 on two sides and the single name for 1939-45 on the side.

Names:

a. 16 full names.
b. 1 full name.
See transcript

Notes:

1. The church underwent major rebuilding work after the 1998 fire and was re-consecrated in 2005

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; Eddy Castling; Lonely Tower

Darlington and Stockton Times
04/06/1921 reports unveiling.

Durham County Advertiser
02/05/1921 reports unveiling.

Illustrated Chronicle
03/06/1921 reports unveiling with photo.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
04/06/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
03/06/1921 reports unveiling.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Brancepeth Estate
Ref: EP/Br 447/1 Minute book of War Memorial Committee, including balance sheet, 08/12/1919 to 17/05/1921;
Ref: EP/Br 447/2 Copy of Order of Service at Dedication;
Ref: EP/Br 447/3 Bank pass book of Rev Surtees regarding War Memorial 30/03/1921 to 31/05/1922;
Ref: EP/Br 447/4 Correspondence file relating to War Memorial – subscribers, accounts etc from 29/11/1919 to 31/10/1921;
Ref: EP/Br 45 Papers re the war memorial, etc., 1919 – 1921 and 1944
Ref: EP/Br 131 Order of service for the unveiling and dedication of the War Memorial Cross, 2 June 1921 (1 booklet, printed0

Diocese of Durham Faculty number 1025, issued 6/7/1921

The History of Brandon Colliery 1856-1960; Laurie Moran; ISN 0 951 7288 14 Reprint 1991.

Memory Lane – Durham City (Michael F. Richardson ISBN 1 85893 193 1) contains a picture with caption.

They Died for their Country: Men of Brancepeth and their memorials. Brancepeth Archives and History Group; 2014