Horncliffe War Memorial

Main Street, Horncliffe, Northumberland, TD15 2XW

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Overview

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438695
Date first listed:: 18-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Horncliffe War Memorial
Statutory Address:: Main Street, Horncliffe, Northumberland, TD15 2XW

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1438695
Date first listed:: 18-Oct-2016
List Entry Name:: Horncliffe War Memorial
Location Description:
Statutory Address 1:: Main Street, Horncliffe, Northumberland, TD15 2XW

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Main Street, Horncliffe, Northumberland, TD15 2XW

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Horncliffe
National Grid Reference:: NT9300249892

Summary

First World War memorial, 1920, with later additions for the Second World War.

Reasons for Designation

Horncliffe War Memorial, which stands on Main Street, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20; * Architectural interest: a richly ornamented cross in the early medieval 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. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead, which meant that the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Horncliffe as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled on 19 September 1920 by Field Marshall Viscount Allenby and dedicated by Reverend WW Charlton (Allenby’s brother lived locally and the Field Marshal was visiting the district on holiday). The memorial commemorates 16 local servicemen who died in the First World War. It was provided by J and J Young of Norham, whilst Mr G Purves of Horncliffe laid the concrete base. The memorial was funded by public subscription. Following the Second World War the name of one man who died in that conflict was added.

The memorial stood immediately outside the Presbyterian Church (not listed) on Main Street. This was sold in 2003 and in 2004 the memorial was moved circa 10m along the road to stand outside the United Reformed Church.

The inscribed names on the plinth had been covered by a metal plate on which the details were repeated. In early 2016 this plate was refurbished and removed. The original names underneath were re-cut and re-painted. The dedicatory inscription was also re-furbished and the cross head, that had developed cracks and was unsafe, was replaced (carved by Mike Viaena of Roluna Stone). These works were funded by Berwick Preservation Trust.

Details

The tall Red Doddington sandstone memorial stands outside Berwick United Reformed Church (not listed) on Main Street, Horncliffe. It takes the form of a cross in the early medieval style, the front surface of which is carved in elaborate interlace patterns. To the foot of the cross shaft the principal dedicatory inscription reads IN/ PROUD AND/ LOVING/ MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF/ HORNCLIFFE/ AND DISTRICT/ WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918.

The cross shaft rises from a tapering plinth that has a moulded foot and which stands on a stone step with a concrete base. The inscription on the front face of the plinth bears the 16 names of the fallen from the First World War. The foot of the plinth carries the quotation “GREATER LOVE/ HATH NO MAN THAN THIS/ THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS/ LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” with below on the riser of the step 1939 – 1945/ (1 NAME).

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, 9 February 2017.

Sources

Websites
North East War Memorials Project, accessed 12/08/2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=7670
War Memorials Online, accessed 9 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/90880
War Memorials Register, accessed 9 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/33471

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

The listed building(s) is/are shown coloured blue on the attached map. Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’), structures attached to or within the curtilage of the listed building (save those coloured blue on the map) are not to be treated as part of the listed building for the purposes of the Act.