Rookhope War Memorial
c20m west of Boltsburn Bridge, Rookhope, County Durham, DL13 2BH
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1439719
- Date first listed:
- 05-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Rookhope War Memorial
- Statutory Address:
- c20m west of Boltsburn Bridge, Rookhope, County Durham, DL13 2BH
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1439719
- Date first listed:
- 05-Dec-2016
- List Entry Name:
- Rookhope War Memorial
- Statutory Address 1:
- c20m west of Boltsburn Bridge, Rookhope, County Durham, DL13 2BH
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:
- c20m west of Boltsburn Bridge, Rookhope, County Durham, DL13 2BH
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Stanhope
- National Grid Reference:
- NY9379942893
Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Reasons for Designation
Rookhope War Memorial, which stands c20m to the west of Boltsburn Bridge, 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 simple yet poignant memorial cross;
* Group value: with The Rookhope Inn (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. 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: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Rookhope 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 in December 1921 by Lt-Col J Gray and dedicated by Reverend HGH Shaddick. It commemorates not only the 12 local servicemen who died in the First World War, but all those who served. The memorial was made by Aves of Hexham. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added.
Details
The c4.5m tall granite memorial stands to the west of Bolt’s Burn. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross bearing a reversed sword carved in low relief on the front face. The cross shaft rises from a small pedestal which stands on a tapering plinth. The plinth is raised on a two-stepped base.
The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the small pedestal reads FOR HOME AND COUNTRY./ ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE/ MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO/ SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-18. The front face of the plinth is inscribed THOSE WHO FELL/ (NAMES) whilst the remaining three faces are all inscribed THOSE WHO RETURNED followed by lists of names. A small tablet on the lower step of the base carried the later inscription, reading IN MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO/ SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ KILLED IN ACTION/ (NAMES). All the inscriptions are in applied metal letters.
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, 22 February 2017.
Sources
Websites
North East War Memorials Project, accessed 20/09/2016 from http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8477
War Memorials Register, accessed 22 February 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/10412
War Memorials Online, accessed 22 February 2017 from https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/214674
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 07-Jun-2026 at 13:25:53.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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