Memorial
Crucifix 1914-18 St. Lawrence’s Churchyard
Byker
Memorial Name: Crucifix 1914-18 St. Lawrence's Churchyard (B95.09)
NEWMP Ref No.: B95.09
Parish: Byker
St. Lawrence Churchyard, Byker Street, Byker, NE6 2JT. NZ 27409 64736.
Brian Roycroft Court, Burton Street, Byker. Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1PG. NZ 26622 64642 (Behind St Silas Church).
1914-18.
Unveiled 23rd July 1922.
Rededicated on new permanent site 4th May 2005 when it was unveiled by Lord Mayor, Mrs. Belle Nixon.
Sandstone.
War Memorial Committee.
£368 9s 11d including erection and fencing.
Public subscription.
Present Condition: Poor 2025 visit, the names need re-cutting, weeding and cleaning Roof now missing.
Ownership and Maintenance: Tyne Housing Group
In memory of
those who
brought honour
to this District
by giving their
lives in the
Great War
1914-1919.
Crucifix 10 feet high (3.048m) with a “roof” over the crucified figure.
The shaft stands on an octagonal pedestal which is decorated at the top with an outward sloping panel bearing flowers carved in half relief.
The whole stands on three octagonal shallow steps.
The dedication is borne on one face of the plinth.
The names are listed in two columns on the other seven sides in Roman capitals.
230 names.
See transcript.
Name added in 1999.
See note 4 below.
1. A proposal was to have a font for the memorial, but the majority of the members preferred to have an outside memorial. “The threatened deadlock regarding the site of the . . . proposed war memorial . . . has been removed . . .committee unanimously agreeing to support the original scheme . . .erection of the memorial in the grounds of St. Lawrence’s Church”.
2. The St. Lawrence site has now been given over for housing. It was hoped to dismantle the memorial and put it into storage until it could be re-erected again in another place. Reports that the memorial was in danger of total collapse and could not be moved were found to be groundless.
3. The memorial was to have been placed in St. Michael’s Churchyard, but this too was part of the £65m redevelopment. The cross was transferred by Bowey Construction to a new site behind St. Silas churchyard, Clifford Street, where it was rededicated on 4th May 2005. It is housed in a courtyard in Brian Roycroft Court Housing complex.
4. Peter Giles, Private, Northumberland Fusiliers, was shot for desertion in August 1916. His name was added to the memorial in July 1999.
5. The Evening Chronicle launched an appeal to have the name of Private Joseph Murray, added to the memorial.
6. The church is now incorporated into the Byker Wall Estate, with the chancel reverse-orientated and a sanctuary by Newcombe to the west.
Photos: J. Brown, Tony Harding
Newcastle Daily Chronicle
29/06/1920 reports proposed meeting to discuss the font;
01/11/1921 reports fund raising concert;
12/07/1922 reports fund raising jumble sale & whist drive.
Newcastle Daily News
11/08/1920 reports £51 received, and that people preferred an outside monument to the font proposed;
25/08/1920 reports agreement to erect a Calvary cross;
04/09/1920 reports agreement to have the memorial in the grounds of the church (Note 1 above).
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
16/10/1995 reports proposal to move the memorial;
19/10/1995 reports the memorial is crumbling and cannot be moved;
23/11/1995 reports dismantling of memorial and proposal to rebuild it another place.
Article (undated) reports proposal to add Joseph Murray’s name.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
03/07/1920 reports on proposal for a font;
24/03/1923 reports on balance sheet.
The Journal
07/08/1997 reports proposed rededication on Sunday;
20/03/1999 reports proposals to add the name of Private Giles;
03/07/1999 reports that the name of Peter Giles, shot for desertion in 1916 had been added to the memorial and a service of reconciliation would be held the following Sunday;
04/11/2000 reports refusal of Newcastle City Council to add name of Joseph Murray to the memorial;
06/11/2000 reports change of heart by Newcastle City Council to have Joseph Murray name added;
05/05/2005 reports the re-dedication at the new permanent site.
Additional Research Documents
Ralph W. Gould;
Michael Newrick;
Janet Brown,
James Pasby;
Tony Harding;
Dorothy Hall
If you are researching this memorial please contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.
BYKER, St. Lawrence’s Churchyard.
Panel 1. Panel 2.
Alexander C. Black T.
In memory of Allen J.F. Blackett T.H.
Allison W. Blackett R.
those who Anderson H. Bone A.
Anderson T. Boyd J.T.
brought honour Atkinson G. Boyd J.
Avison T. Bram T.
to this District Aiken R.J. Brennan R.
Bacon C. Briten J.R.
by giving their Bacon A.J. Briten T.H.
Bailey W.A. Brittain W.M.
lives in the Barrie J.R. Brittain W.D.
Bax A. Brogdon W.
Great War Bell G.B. Broughton J.
Black R. Bulman A.
1914-1919
Bulman W.
Broderick R.
Byrne A.H.
—————————————————–
Panel 3. Panel 4.
Bushell P. Couley W. Falcus R.F. Griffen D.
Couley F. Curry R. Fallon J. Guthrie R.
Carter J.W. Crawford S. Fallon E. Hatley J.W.
Carr C.T.G. Craggs A. Fallon H. Harrison J.
Carson I. Crickmay A. Fletcher M.F. Harrison J.
Chesser E. Cuthbertson T.G Fletcher A. Harrison T.
Christie J. Dent A. Fletcher R.U. Harding J.W.
Christie W. Dickinson C. Fletcher W. Hartle J.
Clark E. Downey W. Fowler A. Harwood G.G.
Clark J. Douglas D. Gibson H. Harkness G.
Colson A.W. Draper A. Gee E.M. Hawkins A.H.
Cooper A. Dring S.J. Gibson E. Head W.C.
Cottenham J. Dunn H. Gordon J. Hearne W.
Coulson D.W. Dunn J.E. Graham J.H. Henzell T.H.
Coulson H. Dunwiddie F. Grant T. Heppell R.
Charlton M. Devoy J. Falcus W. Robson R.
Cartwright J.G. Dilworth W. Fellows T.J. Robson T.
Charlton J. Dodgson W. Murray J.
—————————————————–
Panel 5. Panel 6.
Heslop C. Jobling W. Lockhart R. Meek S.
Heslop R. Jobe G. Long R. Millar J.
Hill H. Johnson T. Longstaff J.W. Miller W.
Hogg W. Jordan H. Longworth W. Minto A.E.
Hodgson N.S. Lucas F.R. Monrow R.
Hood G. Keir J. Murray A. Moorhead J.
Howett R. Kellie W.S. Maughan J. Mundy B.
Humphrey R. Sheilds R. Maughan M.H. Newman H.R.
Hunter T.H. Lackenby W.H. Martin G. Nichols G.
Hutley R. Lambton P. Mayne G.W. Noble M.O
Hannon J. Lawler J. McCartney H. Nunn R.
Ife G. Leach M. McDougal A. Musham J.C.D.
Ions J. Leadbitter A. McElhone J. Orr T.C.
Jamieson W. Lindsay H. McGuirk W. Pattison W.
Jeffrey J. Lindsey J. McKay H. Patterson W.
—————————————————–
Panel 7. Panel 8.
Pavey W. Robson J.W. Simpson C. Thirlwell J.T.
Pears G.C.L. Robson W. Simpson C. Thompson C.
Pearson G.W. Robson S. Simpson C. Thwaites R.W.
Phillipson J. Robson J.R. Simmons J. Turnbull H.
Pigg J.W. Robson J. Siree T. Walker A.
Potter J. Robertson T. Small T. Walker J.W.
Purvis T. Robertson W. Snowball T. Warrener T.
Proud J. Robertson J.J. Stephenson A. Watt J.
Redpath F. Robertson E. Stephenson J. Waterson C.E.
Reed C.E. Rowntree R. Stewart R. Westgarth J.
Reeve F.C. Scott E. Sundin H.L. Wishart T.
Rhodes J. Scott T. Sweeney A.F. Willis T.
Rivett G.W. Severs M. Taylor W. Wood T.
Roberts (?) Shane E. Taylor P. Wright B.
Robson (L?) Simpson J.T. Tester F. Wright G.
Smith E. Temperley J. Young A.
Stanger W.M. Taylor J.T. Thoburn H.
Smith N. Taylor J. Giles. P.
NamesB95.09
War Memorial Indexes
County Durham Index
Newcastle Index
Northumberland Index
Over The Tees Index
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