Cross 1914-18 1939-45 Witton Dene

Witton Dene, a small wooded valley south of the main street.

Due to vandalism it was moved to its present location and rededicated 5th November 1978.

Just off Sacriston Lane near the junction with Briar Lea.

Accessed from Briar Lea

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled 1st September 1922 by Lt.Col. J.R. Ritson, T.D., of Sniperley Hall.
Dedicated by Rev. W.A. Elder, Curate of Witton Gilbert.

Unveiled in new position on 5th November 1978 by Capt. D. Brown
rededicated by Fr. Ian Hoskins.

Stainton stone

War Memorial Committee

£400

Public subscription

Architect J.G. Burrell of Durham

Greater / love / hath / no man / than to / lay down / his life for / his friend.

Witton Gilbert War Memorial
Roll of Honour
of local heroes who died
for their King and Country
during the Great War
for righteousness

Lord grant them everlasting peace.

Cross of St. Cuthbert type on tall tapering octagonal column, 15 feet high (4.6m) set on two shallow steps.

The names are incised into the faces of the base using sans serif capitals.

The dedication is in large letters on each face at the waist of the column in elongated sans serif lettering.

The whole is 23 feet high (7m) set in a narrow paved area.

2022 there is a small garden area surrounding the memorial with a low fence and bushes.

A ‘Victorian Style seat’ and a small stone plaque set in front in the grass,  were placed beside the path leading to the Memorial on October 30th 2018 by Witton Gilbert Parish Council to mark the end of the WW1 Commemorations.

The seat is 72 inches long (1800cms) made by StreetScene of Swansea with 1918 Lest We Forget 2018 on the back.

The stone plaque is 12 inches square (30cms)

1. At the unveiling, one of the speakers talked of the problem of vandalism and ‘pilfering of flowers’.

2. The names are listed by date, and carry on through to 1919 and 1920 – presumably these people died of wounds later.

3. At its original site, the memorial had been near the old village. Since then, much of the old village had been demolished and new housing built further away.

4. Cost of removal and restoration in 1978 was estimated at £3,000.

5. In 1978 members of 105 Squadron of 72nd Regiment of Royal Engineers TAVR spent three weekends moving the memorial, with the aid of a stonemason, using crane, forklift truck and scaffolding to its new site. The memorial was in 28 sections, the biggest of which weighed 2,800 lbs. The soldiers were provided with meals by the Royal British Legion and slept at the home of a member. A local hotel helped out. The total cost to the Branch was £400 and this was soon raised by house-to-house collection plus £100 each from Witton Gilbert Parish Council and Durham District Council.

6. From Witton Gilbert, 222 men had joined up, of whom 43 were killed.

7. “From one who helped build a ‘rustic bridge’ in the Dene – the landscaping scheme was planned partly to give work for the unemployed. The Dene was to have a rose garden, pavilion and a caretaker’s house. What work was carried out took about three months but was soon destroyed by vandalism.” (Simon Raine)

8. Letters recut and memorial cleaned 2000 by Abbey Stonecraft

9. 2022 some of the letters have been painted with black paint.

Photos: Errol Broomfield, Ron Carson, Simon Raine; old postcard post-marked 1924 of memorial in Witton Dene: Andrew Brooks; George Nairn

Chester le Street Chronicle
08/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Consett Guardian
08/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Consett and Stanley Chronicle
08/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Durham Chronicle
08/09/1922 reports unveiling very fully;
10/11/1978 reports re-dedication

Durham County Advertiser
07/05/1920

Illustrated Chronicle
04/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
04/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Stanley and Chester le Street News
07/09/1922 reports unveiling.

Stanley News
07/09/1922

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

Errol Broomfield;
Ron Carson;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Abbey Stonecraft;
Dorothy Hall;
Andrew Brooks;
George Nairn

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