Plaque 1914-18 Police HQ

Police headquarters at the Kylins, Morpeth.

Located on the right hand side of the entrance to the then headquarters of the Northumberland Constabulary.

It was then relocated to Northumbria Police Headquarters in Ponteland, on an outside wall. This closed in 2018.

Northumbria Police Force H.Q., Middle Engine Lane, Wallsend, NE28 9NT.

1914-18

Unveiled Monday 13th September 1920 by the Duke of Northumberland (Lord Lieutenant of the County);
dedicated by the Bishop of Newcastle.

Bronze

The Joint Standing Committee of the County Constabulary without outside assistance.

Northumberland Constabulary
(Badge)
In memory of the following
comrades who gave their lives
for King and Country in the
Great War 1914-18
Killed in action
(Names)
Died of wounds
(Names)
Killed in air raid
(Name)
Steadfast in life, valiant in death.

Plaque 30 inches high x 15 inches wide (750mm x 376mm).

There is a single line border.

At top is the title below which is depicted the badge of the Northumberland County Council.

The names are in a single column, using Roman capitals.

1. When they moved from Morpeth in the 1970s, the memorial was placed ‘in a specially prepared recess at the entrance to the Headquarters’.

2. ‘The authority strength of the force was 294 of all ranks, and of these 82 members had served king and country in the Great War . . . 72 served in the Army and six in the Navy. Six were killed in action, one died of wounds, two died in service. 14 were wounded and one had been a prisoner from 1914. 65 had re-joined the force since hostilities ceased”

3. Constable R. Telford, whose name appears on the plaque, was killed at Willington Quay during an air-raid in June 1915.

4. The Ponteland Cottage Homes were opened in 1903 to take workhouse children from the Newcastle Workhouse. They closed in 1960.
The premises were used as a Teacher Training College until they left.
The buildings became the HQ of Northumbria Police. In 2015 they have built themselves another HQ and have moved out, but not entirely, and the site has been sold for housing.

5. In 2015, the Police premises were relocated to Wallsend.

6. This Memorial did not come to the new Headquarters. But the names have been added to the New Memorial a Wallsend.

Photos: Janet Brown

Illustrated Chronicle
14/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Morpeth Herald
05/12/1919 carries brief report re decision to erect a memorial;
17/09/1920 carries full report of the unveiling ceremony.

Newcastle Daily Chronicle
14/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Daily Journal
14/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
18/09/1920 reports unveiling.

Source of quotation:
“Steadfast in life, valiant in death” Not ascertained.

John Grainger has researched the names on this memorial and would be pleased to hear from anyone with stories, photographs or memorabilia.

Contact:- monreith@aol.com