Monument 1914-18 1939-45 Roadside

In outer wall of the Literary Institute in Church Street.

The New Social and Literary Institute was opened April 2nd 1932.

It was built on land behind the old Literary Institute.

These old buildings were demolished.

The War Memorial Garden, with the War Memorial at the centre, was built in their place.

Now called the  Village Hall, Church Street, Coxhoe DH6 4DA

a. 1914-18
b. 1939-45

a. Unveiled June 1922 by Sgt. William Wilson, D.C.M. and bar.

Granite

War Memorial Committee

£125

Public subscription

Made by A.H. Borrowdale, sculptor of Worksop.

a.
1914-1918
Coxhoe and District War Memorial
Sacred to the memory of the men
who fell in the Great War
1914-1918.
In memory, they still live.

b.
1939-45
Killed in action 1939-45
Lest We Forget

Monument of coursed stone 82 inches high x  61 inches wide (2.08m x 1.5m) bearing a huge shield 61 inches high x 56 inches wide (1.5m x 1.4m) raised in half relief.

The names are carried in four columns in the centre of the shield in leaded letters.

The dedications and quotations are in Roman upper case, the names in sans serif lower case.

The base carries a plaque bearing the dedication and names for 1939-45, also in four columns.

The whole is set within a garden area with seats, chestnut trees and a sundial.

1. The Durham County Advertiser 23/06/1922 states that the memorial was placed on the outer wall of the Institute. “It was not the intention that the memorial should remain permanently in its present position. They hoped that within a few years a large Institute and Hall would be erected at Coxhoe, to which it would be transferred”.

2. The war memorial had been one item in a series of several projects, including the extension of the churchyard, which was made during the curacy of Rev. A.S.G. Griffin, M.A. He was presented with several gifts after his move to Wingate.

3. 2008 Proposals included removal of rusty gates, widening of the entrance to the garden, pruning of trees and replacement of cracked paving, plus installing low fencing and rebuilding the garden wall. It was also proposed to install lights so improve security.

Information on men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Historic England Listing.

Photos: Simon Raine; C. Sanders; Dorothy Hall

Auckland and County Chronicle
04/03/1920 reports proposal to build an Institute;
29/04/1920 reports progress with fund raising;
15/06/1922; 22/06/1922 reports unveiling.

Durham Chronicle
16/06/1922 reports proposed unveiling;
23/6/1922 reports unveiling

Durham County Advertiser
23/06/1922 reports unveiling

Evening Despatch
28/09/1921 reports gifts to Rev. Griffin.

Illustrated Chronicle
13/06/1922 carries photo of memorial to be unveiled next Saturday.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
19/06/1922 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
24/06/1922 reports unveiling

Northern Echo
03/07/2009 reports HLF grant of £48,000 to restore the site

Coxhoe Commemoration: Our World War 1 Legacy; Coxhoe Local History Group; 2018 includes a list with details of those who died and served

Source of quotation:
“Lest we forget”:  ‘Recessional’ Rudyard Kipling

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
C. Sanders;
Dorothy Hall;
Yorkshire Regiment Remembrance

Coxhoe Local History Group have researched the names on their War Memorials.