Cross 1914-18 1939-45 St. Edmund’s Churchyard

Outside St. Edmund’s Church, Cross Hill TS21 3AT

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 4th March 1921 by Lt.Col.Vaux, C.M.G., D.S.O.; dedicated by Lord Bishop Henson of Durham.

Weldon stone. Slate plaques.

Over £300

Public subscription

Mr. W.H. Wood, architect, Newcastle.

a.
In grateful memory of the
men of Sedgefield Bradbury and
Mordon who gave their lives
in the Great War of 1914 – 1919

b.
In grateful memory of
those who gave their lives
in the World War of 1939 – 1945

On rear :
Pass not this stone in sorrow
but in pride
and may you live as nobly
as they died.
Lord grant them eternal life.

Cross with tall tapering shaft on pedestal 9 feet high (2.7m) resting on three wide steps, total height 26 feet (7.9m).

The plaque 39 inches high x 36 inches wide (99cms x 91cms) bearing the dedication is on the front of the main pedestal.

Above this is a shield bearing a cross quartered with lions, the arms of the bishopric of Durham.

The dedication is carried on a sunken grey marble slab on the front of the main plinth, the lettering is in gilded elaborate capitals throughout.

The quotation is on a similar sunken panel in elaborate gilded Roman capitals at the rear of the pedestal, which can only be seen from inside the churchyard.

The whole stands in a fenced area which is partly embedded in the churchyard wall.

1. “Memorial cross. There I read the prayers of dedication and Col. Vaux gave a short address. Unfortunately the rain was falling briskly all the time and the effect on my episcopal robes was not impressive. I was surprised at the steadiness with which a considerable concourse of people endured the weather”. (Bishop Henson, dated 04/03/1921 Diary).

2. The plaque containing the names has obviously been redone after 1939-45 to add the names from that war, since the plaque is complete, and not added to.

3. The cross was restored 2003-4 with the help of grants of £475 and £1375 from Friends of War Memorials (now War Memorials Trust) and also English Heritage because of its Listed status.

4. The cross features on a quilt made in 1997 which is hung in the Ceddesfeld Hall.

5. Capt. de Burgh, Land Agent for Diocese of Durham, organised the dedication ceremony.

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

Photos: C. Sanders; J. Brown; Dorothy Hall

Auckland and County Chronicle
10/03/1921 reports unveiling.

Illustrated Chronicle
02/03/1921 reports proposed unveiling;
07/03/1921 show memorial after unveiling.

Northern Echo
05/03/1921 reports unveiling.
01/07/2026 reports service for 8 men died at the Somme
17/04/2021 reports centenary of unveiling

Stockton & Teesside Herald
12/03/1921 reports unveiling.

The Story Durham (formerly Durham County Record Office)
Hodgson Fowler (architects) Sedgefield War Memorial
Ref: D/HF 129/1 Correspondence re Sedgefield war memorial, 10 January 1921 – 20 November 1922 (1 file)

Durham County Council
Ref: 505/7/10/14

Sedgefield and Bishop Middleham (Frank Bellwood & Sedgefield Local History Society) ISBN 07524 1000 8 features the unveiling.

Memories of Sedgefield County Durham Books carries photo of the unveiling shown here.

Friends of War Memorials
Newsletter No.16 Winter 2002 reports a grant of £1,375 towards repairs and conservation.

Source of quotation :
“Pass not this stone . . .” Not ascertained.

C. Sanders;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Helen Clifford-Brown (Sedgefield Local History Society);
Durham County Council;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance

The names on this memorial are being researched by Sedgefield Local History Society.

Contact: abhodgsons99@btinternet.com