Butterknowle War Memorial
Memorial Cottages, Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle, County Durham, DL13 5NX
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1433867
- Date first listed:
- 25-Apr-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Butterknowle War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- Memorial Cottages, Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle, County Durham, DL13 5NX
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1433867
- Date first listed:
- 25-Apr-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Butterknowle War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- Memorial Cottages, Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle, County Durham, DL13 5NX
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:
- Memorial Cottages, Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle, County Durham, DL13 5NX
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Lynesack and Softley
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ1051925760
Summary
First World War memorial with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Butterknowle War Memorial, which stands on Pinfold Lane, 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 well-executed obelisk in the Classical style.
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. One such memorial was raised at Butterknowle as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the 23 members of the local community, who lost their lives in the First World War. At a later date a dedication was added for the ten men who died during the Second World War.
Details
Butterknowle War Memorial stands on the north side of Pinfold Lane in central Butterknowle. It comprises a stone obelisk, square on plan, rising from a pedimented plinth. That stands on a four-stage base. The memorial is enclosed by a low stone wall carrying railings, and is approached from the pavement through a wrought iron gate.
The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the plinth reads TO THE MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN/ OF BUTTERKNOWLE/ WHO FELL IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914 - - 1918. Below this on the upper stage of the base is “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN/ THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE/ FOR HIS FRIENDS.” ST JOHN 15C 3V with “LET THOSE WHO COME AFTER SEE TO IT/ THAT THEIR NAMES BE NOT FORGOTTEN” on the stage below.
The First World War names are listed on either side of the plinth. Below the scriptural quotations the Second World War dedication reads ALSO TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945 (NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVER.
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.
Sources
Websites
North East War Memorials Project - Butterknowle, accessed 25 February 2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6494
War Memorials Register, accessed 7 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10346
War Memorials Online, accessed 7 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/231031
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 18:53:43.
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.