Memorial
Lychgate 1914-18 1939-45 Later Wars St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard
Prudhoe
Memorial Name: Lychgate 1914-18 1939-45 Later Wars St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard (P19.01)
NEWMP Ref No.: P19.01
Parish: Prudhoe
St. Mary Magdalene Church.
a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45
c. Later wars
Unveiled October 1921 by Duke of Northumberland;
dedicated by Canon Boot
Oak
Present Condition: Restored 2018
Messrs. Oliver, Knowles and Leeson of Newcastle, architects.
Made possibly by Thomas Murray Armstrong.
Over the entrance :
1914 They gave their lives for England 1918
Over the exit:
1939 In memory of those who gave their lives 1945
Lych gate.
Over the gateway is the dedication for 1914-1918, incised and painted gold in Old English script.
There are two panels, one on each side of the gate, which bear the names listed in two columns on each panel.
The lettering is incised and gilded using elaborate script.
In 2018 more panels were placed with names from 1914-18 alongside the former ones.
Lettering is in two columns incised and gilded using Roman lower case lettering.
At the further end, two panels have been placed on either side of the doorway, each listing names from 1939-45 in a single column on each, lettering in incised and gilded Roman lower case.
Above it, across the lintel, is the dedication in gilded Roman capitals.
There is also a further panel listing names from post-1945 with room to add more if required.
a. 214 surnames and initials.
b. 66 surnames and initials
c. 4 later wars, each with 1 surname and initials.
See transcript.
1. “A new flagpole is to be put up at the Lychgate War Memorial in Prudhoe. The Town Council decided to have the new pole put up at a cost of £395 for the pole and its installation. This figure was lower than an estimate to repair the existing pole”. Hexham Courant, 05/10/1990.
2. Oak gates were to be repaired. The whole structure would receive full repairs in 1995. One name board had split. The boards would be repainted and the gold lettering renewed.
3. A newspaper reported in January 1995 that the lychgate had been defaced with spray paint, soldiers’ names had been scratched off and knives stuck into the wood.
4. Hexham Courant 29/11/1996 reports “The memorial . . . has already had its gates repaired, after they were vandalised, and is now set to have its roof done, too.”
5. The raising of funds for the original project was held up by a coal trade stoppage
6. The dedication was to be carried out by the Bishop of Newcastle.
7 In 2018 new panels were placed which contained further names from 1914-18 and added those from 1939-45, plus Palestine 1946, Malaysia 1965, Falklands 1982, and the Gulf 1991.
8 The builder of the lychgate was Thomas Murray Armstrong, according to a strong family tradition. He was a carpenter and builder, who lived in Prudhoe. He was a strong member of the church. Hexham Courant 22/11/2018
Photos: J. Brown; P. Thirkell; T. Harding; Kevin Milburn
Hexham Courant
14/10/1994 reports poor state of lych-gate.
18/10/1996 feature 75 years ago reports unveiling;
29/11/1996 reports repair of gates;
26/7/2018 reports addition of new panels and names;
22/11/2018 carries a letter stating that the lychgate had been built by Thomas Murray Armstrong.
Illustrated Chronicle
01/10/1921 carries progress report;
20/10/1921 reports unveiling with photos.
Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
22/10/1921 reports unveiling.
The Journal
24/01/1995; 26/01/1995 reports vandalism.
Diocese of Newcastle
Faculty No.769, 13/10/1921
Morpeth County Library
Frith collection of photographs;
Additional Research Documents
Prudhoe Local History Society;
Sally Bird;
Philip Thirkell;
George and Janet Brown;
Colin N. Dallison;
Dorothy Hall;
Kevin Milburn
The names on this memorial are being researched by Len Franchetti .
Contact: lenbren@talktalk.net
PRUDHOE, St. Mary Magdalene Church Lychgate.
First panel
M. Addy R. Ellwood
P. Allison R. Ellwood
M. Allport E. Falconer
G. Anderson J. Foster
W. Anderson J. Frazer
J. Appleby J. Frazer
O. Appleby J. Glendinning
J. Baird J. Grieveson
S. Bannister R. Hall
G. Barron A. Hankin
R. Bell C. Harrison
Jas. Blackburn J. Harrison
Jno. Blackburn H. Hubbuck
Jos. Blackburn Jas. Hudson
T. Blackburn Jno. Hudson
W. Blackburn M. Hudson
J.B. Buckham F. Jemison
G. Cairns J. Johnson
E. Collins J. Johnson
H. Crystal R. Johnson
W. Dixon G. Kent
E. Dunn J. Lane
J.J. Elliott M. Lane
———————————————–
Second panel
W. Leathard W.A. Rowe
W.S. Leathard C. Rowell
J. Lee W. Rowell
M. Lindsay J. Shepherd
T. Lindsay R.E. Shotton
W.M. Coombes W.V. Simpson
F. McKenna D. Smith
R.M. Veigh W. Spence
J. Marshall T. Storey
W. Martin J. Suddes
A. Maughan T. Surtees
G. Mullholland E. Tailford
G. Nesbitt C. Thirtle
S. Nesbitt J. Thompson
F. Pattinson E. Towler
G. Ridley G. Towler
J.S. Ridley R. Towler
R.H. Ridley W. Towler
W. Ridley H. Turnbull
J. Robertson J. West
D. Robson J. Whitfield
J. Robson A. Wright
R.W. Robson T. Wright
A. Rosborough
———————————————–
Third panel
1914-1919
Adams, J.E. Dickinson, W.
Archer, E. Docherty, P.P.
Armstrong, J. Dolan, J.
Armstrong, M. Donahue, P.
Armstrong, J.W.
Arthur, T. Ellison, T.
Arthur, W.
Fawcett, J.
Bainbridge, G. Findlay, A.
Ballantine, P.T. Fletcher, A.
Batey, R. Frazer, M.
Bell, H.H.
Bell, J. Gleugh, J.D.
Bell, R. Gordon, J.
Blackburn, R. Grant, W.C.
Blackburn, R.E. Gray, P.
Blackburn, W.
Brown, G.W. Harris, J.W.
Burns T. Harrison, J.D.
Harvey, A.
Charlton, B. Hawkins, E.
Clarence, D. Heslop, E.J.
Clark, W. Hill, W.
Cockbaine, G. Hunter, C.
Conkleton, R.M. Hunter, G.
Cowey, J. Hunter, G.
———————————————–
Fourth panel
1914-1919
Irwin W. Orr, T.
Oswald, H.
Jackson, W.
Jewitt, G.T.
Judd, H.W. Patterson, M.
Pebbles, R.
Keating, R. Peebles, W.
Keenan, P.W. Pender, H.G.G.
Pringle, G.
Laws, A.A. Purvis, T.
Lee, T.A.
Liddell, J.A.
Liddle, J.W.
Lindsay, A.A. Raine, E.
Longstaff, T. Rea, R.
Lowdon, J.E. Richardson, D.
Lowes, J. Roberts, G.
Roberts, J.
Maddison, H. Robson, J.
Marshall, J.W. Robson, J.
McBride, P. Rutherford J
McCann, T.
McCauley, W.
McIntyre, A.
McVeigh, R.B.
McVinnie, J.
———————————————–
Fifth Panel
1914-1919
Scarlet, W.A.H. Unwin, J.R.
Scott, J.
Scott, Jos.
Scott, R. Varty, D.T.
Short, E. Varty, W.
Simpson, C.W. Venus, J.N.
Slack, B.
Smith, E.
Smith, P. Waddell, T.
Stoker, I. Wade, J.
Walton, A.E.
Watson, J.
Watts, C.
Waugh, H.
Talbot, J. Waugh, W.
Taylor, J.W. Weatherley, W.
Taylor, R. White, J.W.
Telford, W.J. Whittle, W.
Thompson, C. Wilkinson, J.
Trueman, G. Wilson, R.W.
Tulip, J.T. Winskill, T.B.
Turner, C.N.
Turner, J.F. Young, T.
———————————————–
Sixth Panel Seventh panel
1939 – 1945
Anderson, S.R. McLean, N.
Ballantyne, J.R. McCoull, S.T.
Bates, S. Metcalfe, W.J.
Baxter, F. Murray, I.
Bell, P. Nattrass, J.
Bestford, G.L. Newton, A.
Bright, J.A. O’Brien, P.M.
Brown, Sheila Parker, J.
Busby, E.F. Pickles, C.R.H.
Caulfield, L. Porter, E.
Caulfield, R. Price, R.
Chesson, W. Reed, G.T.
Connelly, E.J. Regan, R.
Cowen, N. Rippon, J.S.
Ellison, H. Robinson, F.
Grant, R. Robinson, J.
Gray, J.S. Robson, D.
Gray, J.E. Robson, T.
Gray, J. Rosemurgey, E.
Greener, G. Rosemurgey, N.
Hall, G. Rutherford J.R.
Hamilton, A.J. Scott, S.
Harrison, G. Smart, W.T.
Henderson, T. Spirit, J.T.
Hunter, J. Stephenson, T.P.
Jeffery, J. Stewart, J.
Johnson, J. Walker, K.W.
Johnson, N. Wanless, W.J.
Leonard, T.M. Ward, D.
Lishman, J. Whitton, R.
Lishman, R. Wilson, J.W.
Lockhart, H.A. Yielder, J.R.
Loft, F.
Lowdon, A.W.
———————————————–
Eighth Panel
Palestine
1946
Valentine C.
Malaysia
1965
Little, W.K.
Falklands
1982
Armstrong, D.
Gulf War
1991
Leech, K.
Names P19.01
War Memorial Indexes
County Durham Index
Newcastle Index
Northumberland Index
Over The Tees Index
This is a work in progress. Interested in helping, contact 2014@newmp.org.uk
