War memorial outside St Oswald's Church, Durham
Churchyard of the Church of St Oswald, Church Street, Durham, DH1 3DG
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1435090
- Date first listed:
- 07-Jun-2016
- List Entry Name:
- War memorial outside St Oswald's Church, Durham
- Statutory Address:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Oswald, Church Street, Durham, DH1 3DG
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1435090
- Date first listed:
- 07-Jun-2016
- List Entry Name:
- War memorial outside St Oswald's Church, Durham
- Statutory Address 1:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Oswald, Church Street, Durham, DH1 3DG
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:
- Churchyard of the Church of St Oswald, Church Street, Durham, DH1 3DG
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- City of Durham
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ2763041979
Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
The war memorial outside St Oswald’s Church, Durham, 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 tall and elegant memorial cross:
* Group value: with the Church of St Oswald (Grade II*-listed).
History
The war memorial outside St Oswald’s Church, Durham, was unveiled on 19 March 1921 by Mrs Roberts of Hollingside House. It was dedicated by the Bishop of Durham in commemoration of 79 local servicemen who died during the First World War, including two of Mrs Roberts’ sons. Designed by Diocesan Architect W H Wood, the memorial cost £300 raised by public subscription.
Originally the memorial was enclosed by railings but these have since been removed. Following the Second World War the names of those 11 who died during that conflict were added. Two of the memorial's bronze plaques were stolen in 2009. These were replaced with precisely similar plaques in 2010 as part of a conservation project, supported by War Memorials Trust.
Details
The memorial stands at the north-east entrance to the churchyard of the Church of St Oswald (Grade II*-listed). It comprises a stone Calvary cross, c 6m tall overall. The Calvary is gabled, with a scroll bearing the letters INRI above the figure of the crucified Christ. The cross head rises from a moulded collar. The tapering octagonal cross shaft stands on a pedestal, square on plan with broached corners. That stands on a square, three-stepped, base.
The inscriptions are cast into bronze plaques on the pedestal. The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR OF/ ALL THE PARISHIONERS WHO SERVED/ AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE CAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS/ AND PEACE IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918 R.I.P.
The First World War names are recorded on rectangular bronze plaques on the remaining three sides of the pedestal. Two similar, but smaller, plaques added to each side of the pedestal record the Second World War names.
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, accessed 13/04/2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=7047
War Memorials Trust, Grants Showcase, accessed 05/05/2016 from http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=891
War Memorials Register, accessed 7 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10238
War Memorials Online, accessed 7 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/113250
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 17-Jun-2026 at 10:37:25.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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