Obelisk 1914-18 St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard

St. Mary Magdalene Churchyard

To the north of the church.

Carrville High Street.

Almost in line with the pedestrian island crossing from the Blue House Shops, on a site adjoining the churchyard on the north-east side.

1914-18

Unveiled 11th November 1919 by Rt. Rev. The Lord Bishop of Durham.

Rededicated after restoration and removal to new site on 8th November 2009.

Red Peterhead granite obelisks and plinths.

a. Estimated £184.

Public subscription

Emley & Sons, Newcastle.

On obelisk
In ever grateful remembrance of
the men of this parish
who have given their lives for
King and Country in the Great War
1914 – 1919

This monument is erected
by public subscription.

Mors janua vitae

On new plaque
Belmont War Memorial
was moved to this location in 2009
thanks to the generous support of
County Durham Environment Trust,
Belmont Parish Council,
The Barbour Trust
Durham City and County Councillors,
Belmont Community Association and
Residents of the Parish of Belmont.

Friends of Belmont War Memorial

Obelisk.

This is on a pedestal on a base standing on three steps.

The dedication is on the front face of the top step, the names are carried in a single column on each face of the pedestal.

The lettering is in gilded sans serif capitals.

The memorial formerly stood within a kerbed area filled with stone chippings.

This has been replaced by a paved area inside a fenced compound.

The obelisk now has four pillars on each side.

These are for later wars.

They now stand within a kerb which bears the Kohima quotation on the front.

1. The names were repainted in 1928.
They were repainted in 1947 by the 1939-45 Committee after consultation with the surviving members of the 1914-18 Committee.
They were repainted again in 1980, by John Lowes and Sons of Durham, the cost being met from the balance remaining in the church fund.
They were regilded in 2008 by Scott & Sons of Seaham.

2. Further repairs to loose stones were paid for in 1996-7 by the Parish Council.

3. At the original unveiling, two wreaths were laid, one by Belmont Working Party and the other by children from Gilesgate Moor School.

4. In 2008 a Small Grants Scheme of £571 was made by War Memorials Trust towards the costs of repairs.

5. The name “Gaffeny” is mis-spelt and should be “Gaffney”. It is correctly spelled on other memorials.

6. The original unveiling took place in a heavy snowstorm.

7. The whole monument moved to a new site in November 2009.

Historic England Listing

Photos before restoration: Simon Raine; George Kitching;
Photos after rededication: David Drinkwater; Dorothy Hall

Durham Chronicle
14/11/1919 reports unveiling

Durham Times
16/01/2009 reports plans for the move.

Northern Echo
17/1/2009 reports proposals for the move;
25/10/2009 reports progress on move

North Mail
17/11/1919 carries brief report of progress.

Parochial Church Minutes.

Diocese of Durham Faculty
857 8th September 1919

The Story (formerly Durham County Record Office
Ref: EP/Bel 4/10 Faculty for the erection of the war memorial in the churchyard, 8 September 1919

Source of quotation:
“Mors janua vitae” (“Death is the path to life”) Not ascertained.

Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
John & Mavis Dixon;
Belmont Parish Council;
Dorothy Hall;
Dave Drinkwater;
George Kitching