Gainford War Memorial
St Mary's Churchyard, The Green, Gainford, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3DS
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437053
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Gainford War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- St Mary's Churchyard, The Green, Gainford, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3DS
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1437053
- Date first listed:
- 05-Aug-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Gainford War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- St Mary's Churchyard, The Green, Gainford, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3DS
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:
- St Mary's Churchyard, The Green, Gainford, Darlington, County Durham, DL2 3DS
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Gainford
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ1698416704
Summary
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Gainford War Memorial, which stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary, 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 early-medieval style;
* Group value: with the church of St Mary (Grade I) and other Grade II-listed structures including 27 and 28 Low Green.
History
Gainford War Memorial was unveiled on 19 March 1921 by Sir Arthur Pease (High Sheriff of Durham) and dedicated by the vicar, Reverend HC Watson. The address was given by Lord Gainford. The memorial commemorates 25 local servicemen who died in the First World War and cost £150 raised by public subscription. The memorial was designed by the Reverend Watson’s daughter, inspired by an early-medieval cross from Gainford, and carved by Mr Percival Charge of Messrs Charge Brothers. Following the Second World War the names of a further six men who died in that conflict were added and the memorial was re-dedicated on 17 November 1953.
Details
The York stone memorial stands in the churchyard of the church of St Mary (Grade I), in close proximity to a number of other listed structures including 27 and 28 Low Green (Grade II). It takes the form of a tall cross in the early medieval style. The front face of the cross head and the upper part of the cross shaft are decorated with complex interlace patterns carved in low relief.
Below the lower panel of interlace, the principal dedicatory inscription reads THESE MEN OF/ GAINFORD PARISH/ LAID DOWN THEIR/ LIVES/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918. The lettering is raised, in a rectangular panel. The commemorated names are listed below, ordered by Service, and are incised into the stone. A small stone at the foot of the memorial cross carries the Second World War dedication, reading 1939 – 1945/ (6 NAMES).
The cross stands on a low rectangular step and is surrounded by an octagonal kerb that defines a flower-bed.
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, 23 November 2017.
Sources
Websites
North East War Memorials Project, accessed 23/06/2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=7372
War Memorials Register, accessed 7 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10356
War Memorials Online, accessed 23 November 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/253811
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 25-Jun-2026 at 09:26:11.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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