Memorial

Plaque Miners 1914-18 St. Hilda’s Miners’ Hall

South Shields

Memorial Name: Plaque Miners 1914-18 St. Hilda's Miners' Hall (S86.003)

NEWMP Ref No.: S86.003

Parish: South Shields

Original Location:

St. Hilda’s Miners Hall. Maxwell Street, South Shields. NE33 4PU. NZ 36365 66461

Present Location:

St Hilda’s Church, St Hilda’s Lane, Market Place, South Shields. NE33 1BH. NZ 36098 67068

Which War:

1914-18

Dedication, Creation or Publication date:

Unveiled 16th April 1921 by Mr. Batey, local secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association,
dedicated by Rev. J.W. Hudson-Barker, Vicar of South Shields.

Materials Used:

Brass

Who Commissioned:

Durham Miners Lodge Association.

Present Condition: Good

Inscription:

Saint Hilda Lodge
Roll of Honour
In Memory of
the
1,100 men who served
and the following who made
the Great Sacrifice
in the European War
1914-1918
Durham Miners’ Association.

Memorial Description:

Plaque 30 inches high x 60 inches wide (762mm x 1.54m).

There is an elaborate design of leaves up both sides, with a large boss of a Tudor rose in each corner.

The titles at the top and bottom are made by removing the background and leaving the lettering standing proud.

The dedication is to the left, with the top and bottom lines curved to make a circle.

The words “Roll of Honour” are in elaborate lettering written on a carved scroll.

The names are listed in five columns, the fifth one of which includes a list of those missing.

The lettering is in sans serif capitals.

Names:

135 surnames and initials of those who fell.
See transcript.

Notes:

1. The plaque was originally installed in the St. Hilda’s Miners’ Hall in Maxwell Street, which was demolished shortly after the Second World War. It was passed to the NUM regional headquarters in Durham for safe keeping. It was found there by men searching for memorabilia from the now defunct St. Hilda Colliery to help commemorate the 150th anniversary of the pit disaster. As a result, it was requested that it be placed on permanent display in St. Hilda’s church, in 1990.

2. The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 29/05/1919 reports: “Of the 1080 men who joined H.M. Forces from St. Hilda’s Colliery, South Shields, 120 made the supreme sacrifice and 37 have gained distinctions. On Saturday night, at the King’s Hall, 10 military medallists from St. Hilda’s will be presented with gold watches and chains, subscribed for by the officials and workmen.

3. Faculty 7075, issued 28th March 1990 for the relocation to the Church.

Sources:

Photos: Simon Raine; Pamela Siegel; Dorothy Hall

Illustrated Chronicle
18/04/1921 reports unveiling.

Newcastle Weekly Chronicle
23/04/1921 reports unveiling.

Northern Echo
18/04/1921 briefly reports unveiling.

Shields Gazette
14/04/1921 reports proposed unveiling;
18/04/1921 reports unveiling

The Journal
undated but 1989, re return of memorial to St. Hilda’s Church.

Diocese of Durham Faculty 7075, issued 28/03/1990.

The Monumental Brasses of County Durham William Lack, H. Martin Stuchfield and Philip Whittemore 2002 ISBN 095 4327101

Sources Link: Northern Echo 04 18 Mon -1921

Additional Research Documents

Research Acknowledgements:

Ralph W. Gould;
C. Sanders;
John and Mavis Dixon;
Dorothy Hall;
Fitzhugh Collection, Middleton in Teesdale;
Michael Mulhern;
Pamela Siegel;
James Pasby