Summary
First World War memorial, unveiled 1921.
Reasons for Designation
The war memorial outside St Hilda’s Church, South Shields, 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 First World War;
* Architectural interest: a richly ornamented and well-proportioned memorial cross in the early medieval style;
* Group value: with the Church of St Hilda, and other Grade II-listed structures in the churchyard.
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 in South Shields as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.
Details
The memorial stands in the churchyard of the Church of St Hilda (Grade II-listed), to the west of the church. Built in Stancliffe stone, the c7m tall memorial takes the form of an early medieval cross. The cross shaft rises from a plinth, which stands on a three-stepped base.
End of official list entry
