Fir Tree War Memorial Drinking Fountain
The Green, Fir Tree, County Durham, DL15 8DG
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436984
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Fir Tree War Memorial Drinking Fountain
- Statutory Address:
- The Green, Fir Tree, County Durham, DL15 8DG
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1436984
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Fir Tree War Memorial Drinking Fountain
- Statutory Address 1:
- The Green, Fir Tree, County Durham, DL15 8DG
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:
- The Green, Fir Tree, County Durham, DL15 8DG
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ1392334516
Summary
First World War memorial drinking fountain, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Fir Tree War Memorial Drinking Fountain, which stands on the village green, 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: an ornamental drinking fountain designed to commemorate the community’s fallen servicemen.
History
According to a local newspaper report, the residents of Fir Tree planned to have a war memorial in place by July 1920. The drinking fountain was erected beside the road junction at the south-east end of the village, in commemoration of 12 local servicemen who died in the conflict. That plot of land had been donated by Mr T Hird. At a later date the memorial was moved c200m metres north-west, to the green alongside the School House. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added. It may have been at this time that the principal dedicatory inscription was re-cut: a photograph dating to the 1930s shows the original First World War inscription.
Details
The stone memorial, c2.5m tall, stands on the green in Fir Tree. It takes the form of a drinking fountain. An elaborate pinnacled urn raised on a pedestal, square on plan, stands at the top. There are shallow hoods to each face of the pedestal, from which drinking water once issued. A small basin projects below each hood, supported by ornamented corbels. The plinth below, square on plan, stands on a two-stepped stone base. The plinth’s edges are chamfered with stops at the top of each curve, defining blind panels on each side.
The principal dedicatory inscription on the plinth’s front face reads ERECTED TO/ THE MEMORY/ OF THE MEN OF/ THE VILLAGE/ OF FIR TREE/ WHO MADE/ THE SUPREME/ SACRIFICE IN/ WAR/ “THEY LIVE”. The First World War names are recorded to either side. The Second World War dedication on the rear face reads 1939 – 1945/ (3 NAMES)/ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR/ EVERMORE.
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=7270
Durham County Council, The Durham Record, accessed 22/06/2016 from http://dre.durham.gov.uk/pgDre.aspx?ID=DRE4067
War Memorials Register, accessed 7 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10408
War Memorials Online, accessed 7 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/240127
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 27-Jun-2026 at 08:35:02.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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