Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The York stone memorial stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary (Grade I), in close proximity to a number of other listed structures including 27 and 28 Low Green (Grade II). It takes the form of a tall cross in the early medieval style. The front face of the cross head and the upper part of the cross shaft are decorated with complex interlace patterns carved in low relief.

Below the lower panel of interlace, the principal dedicatory inscription reads THESE MEN OF/ GAINFORD PARISH/ LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The lettering is raised, in a rectangular panel. The commemorated names are listed below, ordered by Service, and are incised into the stone. A small stone at the foot of the memorial cross carries the Second World War dedication, reading 1939 – 1945/ (6 NAMES).

The cross stands on a low rectangular step and is surrounded by an octagonal kerb that defines a flower-bed.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 November 2017.

History

Gainford War Memorial was unveiled on 19 March 1921 by Sir Arthur Pease (High Sheriff of Durham) and dedicated by the vicar, Reverend HC Watson. The address was given by Lord Gainford. The memorial commemorates 25 local servicemen who died in the First World War and cost £150 raised by public subscription. The memorial was designed by the Reverend Watson’s daughter, inspired by an early-medieval cross from Gainford, and carved by Mr Percival Charge of Messrs Charge Brothers. Following the Second World War the names of a further six men who died in that conflict were added and the memorial was re-dedicated on 17 November 1953.

Reasons for Listing

Gainford War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a richly ornamented cross in the early-medieval style;
* Group value: with the church of St Mary (Grade I) and other Grade II-listed structures including 27 and 28 Low Green.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66477769

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)