Backworth War Memorial
War Memorial, Backworth Lane, Backworth, North Tyneside
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1406711
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jul-2012
- List Entry Name:
- Backworth War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- War Memorial, Backworth Lane, Backworth, North Tyneside
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1406711
- Date first listed:
- 12-Jul-2012
- List Entry Name:
- Backworth War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- War Memorial, Backworth Lane, Backworth, North Tyneside
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- War Memorial, Backworth Lane, Backworth, North Tyneside
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- North Tyneside (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ3005872244
Summary
First World War memorial with Second World War additions in the form of a tall obelisk with incised decoration.
Reasons for Designation
Backworth war memorial is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* It is a poignant reminder of the impact of tragic world events upon an individual community
* It has strong cultural and historical significance within both a local and national context
* it is a well-executed and handsome war memorial that contributes to the local street scene
History
After the First World War it was originally intended that there would be one war memorial for the whole district in the form of a nurses’ home on a site offered by the Duke of Northumberland. The Backworth Coal Company offered £1000 towards the cost of this, but when other places within the district had erected their own memorials and there was apparent indecision in Backworth, the money was withdrawn, and a memorial to the fallen of Backworth and West Holywell was erected by local builder J. H Taylor outside the former reading rooms. The memorial was unveiled at a ceremony on 2nd December 1922 by Col. L Taylor of Hinderside Hall, Kelso and was dedicated by Revd. E Arkless and Revd. R Davies. It was re-erected in 1948 in its present position on the village green.
Details
First World War memorial with Second World War additions.
The memorial is located at the centre of the village green; a series of six sandstone steps lead up to the monument which is of granite and comprises a stepped stone plinth and a pediment surmounted by a tall obelisk; the obelisk is decorated with flags in relief at its base on the front face, and bands of incised decorations including Greek key, palmette and pellets on the other faces. The lettering is incised and painted black using sans serif capitals throughout. The inscription on the front face of the obelisk reads: LEST WE FORGET / TO THE / HONOUR / OF OUR / GLORIOUS DEAD.
Below this on the pediment is the inscription: IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN OF BLACKWORTH & WEST HOLYWELL / WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR.
The names of the forty-nine fallen are listed below on the font and sides of the pedestal, and on a riser below reads: 1914-18. A step below reads 1939-45. The rear of this stone reads: IN MEMORY OF / THE MEN WHO FELL / IN THE SECOND GREAT WAR, followed by the names of the 20 Fallen.
This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Online. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 8 February 2017.
Sources
Websites
Backworth and West Holywell, accessed from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6301
War Memorials Register, accessed 8 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/17742
War Memorials Online, accessed 8 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/203695
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 24-Jun-2026 at 10:03:36.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.