East Howle and Crossings War Memorial

Summary

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

Reasons for Designation

East Knowle and Crossings War Memorial, which stands in the garden to the east of the Market Place, Ferryhill, 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 Celtic style;
* Group value: with Ferryhill War Memorial and the Walton Memorial (both listed at Grade II).

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 East Howle, the village that served East Howle Colliery to the north of Ferryhill, as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by 20 members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

Following the Second World War the names of a further three men were added to the memorial. East Howle village is now much reduced in size, the pit having closed in the early-C20, and at some point the memorial was moved c1.2km into Ferryhill. It now stands in a small garden alongside Ferryhill’s war memorial and the Walton memorial (both Grade II-listed). In 2015 the memorial was refurbished with the assistance of grant aid from War Memorials Trust.

Details

The memorial stands to the north side of a small garden between Ferryhill Town Hall and the Market Place. To its south are Ferryhill War Memorial and the Walton Memorial, both Grade II-listed. East Howle and Crossings War Memorial takes the form of a granite Celtic cross, c3m tall. The front face of wheel-head is ornamented with intricate interlace patterns carved in low relief. The front face of the cross shaft is outlined with a raised border delimiting two blind panels. The shaft rises from a tapering plinth with a plain, square, base. That stands on a single step of a different stone.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the plinth reads SACRED/ TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF/ EAST HOWLE AND CROSSINGS,/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR./ 1914 – 1918 with below, on the front face of the base, PASS NOT THIS STONE IN SORROW BUT IN PRIDE/ AND MAY YOU LIVE AS NOBLY AS THEY DIED. The First World War names are listed on the plinth sides, with the Second World War names on the rear face.

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 22/06/2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=7253
The Yorkshire Regiment - First World War Remembrance, accessed 22/06/2016 from http://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/html-files/ferryhill-cross.htm
War Memorials Register, accessed 7 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10539
War Memorials Online, accessed 7 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/199845

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