Memorial

Crucifix and Plaques 1914-18 St. George

South Moor

Memorial Name: Crucifix and Plaques 1914-18 St. George (S129.02)

NEWMP Ref No.: S129.02

Parish: South Moor

Original Location:

St. George Church, Park Road. (Closed)

On the gable end.

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 29th November 1919 by Mr. R.W. Cooper, managing director of South Moor Colliery Co.,
dedicated by the Bishop of Durham.

Materials Used:

Oak cross, copper figure. Marble panels in Portland stone framework.

Cost:

Estimated £200

How Money was Raised:

Public subscription.

Sculptor, Artist or Designer:

Calvary design by Mowbray of London.

Inscription:

To the glory of God
and in memory of
the men whose names
are here recorded who
cheerfully gave their
lives for freedom and
the England they loved
so well in the Great War
1914-1919
Their relatives
have erected this tablet
and adjoining cross

“Above the graves of heroes
the wooden crosses grow,
who shall no more see Durham,
nor any place they know,
where fell tops face the morning
and great winds blow;
who loving as none other
the land that is their mother,
unfaltering renounced her
because they loved her so”
W.N. Hodgson.

Memorial Description:

Crucifix set on a stone pedestal.

This is set in a tiny garden with a path on either side leading to the plaques on the wall behind.

There are three plaques set in a stone framework.

The dedication and poem are set into the centre panel.

The names are listed in two staggered columns on each of the two outer panels.

All lettering is gilded, the dedication is in elaborate Roman capitals, the names and poem are in sans serif capitals and the poem is italicised.

Names:

85 full names.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. In the Faculty file, Correspondence from the incumbent stressed the unanimous support from within the Parish for the design and location of the memorial, despite the fact that the majority of casualties commemorated were Non-Conformists or non-church goers. Reference is made to other Parishes where such tolerance and unanimity of view had not been shown and “would cause strife” – this was supported by anecdotal accounts of objections to proposed memorial designs and siting’s of which Diocesan staff were aware.

2. The Crucifix was badly damaged in 2005 and the Christ figure had gone in 2007 but on a visit in 2016 all had been restored.

External Links:

Historic England Listing

Sources:

Photos: Errol Broomfield, Ron Carson; Simon Raine; Dorothy Hall; Ian Finlayson; Old Postcard: George Nairn

Consett & Stanley Chronicle
 05/12/1919 reports unveiling, but omits the name James Brinton from the list.

Illustrated Chronicle
29/11/1919 reports unveiling “this afternoon” ;
01/12/1919 reports unveiling with photo.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
06/12/1919 reports unveiling with photo

Northern Echo
17/01/1919 reports proposals and decision;
01/12/1919 reports unveiling.

Stanley News
11/08/1921 reports memorial anniversary service.

Diocese of Durham
 Faculty 839, issued 19/06/1919

Source of quotation
 ”Above the graves of heroes . . .” Poem by W.N. Hodgson.

Sources Link: Northern Echo 01 17 Fri -1919
Sources Link: Northern Echo 12 01 Mon -1919 01
Sources Link: Northern Echo 12 01 Mon -1919 02
Sources Link: Illustrated Chronicle 11 29 Sat -1919
Sources Link: Illustrated Chronicle 12 01 Mon -1919 01
Sources Link: Illustrated Chronicle 12 01 Mon -1919 02
Sources Link: Illustrated Chronicle 12 01 Mon -1919 03

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Errol Broomfield and Ron Carson;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
John and Mavis Dixon;
C. Sanders;
Ian Finlayson;
Dorothy Hall

Research In Progress:

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

Photo: Dorothy Hall
Provide Details

If you know more about this memorial, please send the details to NEWMP.

Names Documents:

South Moor, St. James’ Church

Centre plaque:

 

  To the Glory of God

  and in memory of

  the men whose names

  are here recorded who

  cheerfully gave their

  lives for freedom and

  the England they loved

  so well in the Great War

  1914-1919

  their relatives

  have erected this tablet

  and adjoining cross

  ———-

  “Above the graves of heroes

  The wooden crosses grow,

  Who shall no more see Durham,

  Nor any place they know,

  Where fell tops face the morning

  And great winds blow.

  Who loving as none other

  The land that is their mother,

  Unfaltering renounced her

  Because they loved her so.”

                             W.N. Hodgson

————————————-

Left hand plaque:          Right hand plaque:

  John G. Appleton         Michael Joyce   

     Robert Armstrong         John Lamb

  William Armstrong        Edmund Kelly

     Henry G. Beckham         Henry King

  Robert H. Bowman         Robert Knight

     Edmund Brass             Emmerson Marley

  James Brinton            John Marshall

     John Brinton             Francis Martin

  Robert Brown             William Monkhouse

     Norman Burnage           Charles Morton

  George S.P. Charlton     Jonathan Mosey

     James A. Clennell        John M. Newby

  John W. Collings         George Nichol

     Alexander Coxon          Joseph Norwood   

  Ernest Davison           George T. Pearson

     John J. Dickeson         William Pinkerton

  John G. Dobson           Albert Pomeroy

     Joseph W. Dodds          Thomas H. Proctor

  Thomas Down              William Proudlock

     Levi Dowson              James H. Race

  James W. Duffy           Charles G. Rackham

     Michael Duffy            George W. Rainbow

  Richard Ellis            Robert Ratcliffe

     Joseph Ellwood           John Readman

  Thomas R. Emery          Henry Robertson

     Henry Falgate            Thomas Savage

  Miles Farrell            Arthur Seymour

     Wilson Ferry             John Shield

  Thomas Forster           Robert V. Shield

     William J. Foster        W. Gilbert Simm

  Richard Frost            John J. Simpson

     Joseph T. Fuller         James W. Smith

  Thomas Gair              John W. Smith

     Alfred E. Gibson         Albion Teasdale

  George H. Goodchild      Benjamin Thirlaway

     Thomas Green             Matthew I. Thirlaway

  William Green            Wylam Thirlaway

     Thomas Guy               Jonathan Tinnion

  William Hall             Samuel Ward

     Robert Hill              John Whitney

  William Hill             Septimus L. Whitney

     Richard Hope             Matthew H. Wright

  R.J.T. Ingram Johnson

——————————————————

There are some inconsistencies in the names printed in the

Consett and Stanley Chronicle.

  They have “Henry B. Beckham” instead of “Henry G. Beckham”;

“James Brinton” is missing;

  “Thomas Brown” instead of “Thomas Down”;

“Michael Duffy” is missing

“John Marshall” is incorrectly followed by “Jno. Marshall”

NamesS129.02

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