Summary

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

Description

The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints (Grade II-listed), close to the lychgate (not listed) and overlooking Church View. It takes the form of a Celtic cross in rough-hewn grey granite that rise from a tapering plinth. The plinth stands on a low step. To the rear of the plinth a granite panel bears the Second World War dedication, 1939 – 1945/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM/ (NAMES). The whole memorial stands in a small square enclosure defined by a low kerb.

The front face of the cross head is ornamented with a slightly raised and polished cross, below which on the cross shaft is a raised and polished panel bearing the principal dedicatory inscription. That reads: IN PROUD/ AND LOVING/ MEMORY OF/ THOSE WHO/ DIED FOR/ KING AND/ COUNTRY/ 1914-1918/ LEST WE FORGET/ ERECTED/ BY THE/ WOMEN AND/ CHILDREN/ OF/ HURWORTH/ AND/ NEASHAM. The commemorated First World War names are listed on three faces of the plinth.

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, 7 February 2017.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial, provided by J Johnson of Darlington, was raised at Hurworth-on-Tees as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 38 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. Following the Second World War the names of 15 men who died in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Hurworth-on-Tees and Neasham War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the Church of All Saints, 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 sacrifices it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: a simple yet poignant memorial cross in the Celtic style;
* Group value: with the Church of All Saints and a number of churchyard monuments (Grade II-listed).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478016

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.

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