Summary
First World War memorial cross, 1921.
Reasons for Designation
Leadgate War Memorial, which stands on Durham Road, 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: an intricately carved Celtic cross in granite.
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 Leadgate 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 cross was unveiled on 24 April 1921 by the vicar, Reverend WH Coney. By W Ayton and Sons, it records the names of 98 servicemen from the district who died during the First World War. On 29 September 2007 a new tablet, listing the names of 50 local men who died during the Second World War, was unveiled alongside the memorial cross.
W Ayton and Sons were also responsible for war memorials in the region including those at Greencroft and Burnopfield (both Grade II-listed), Iveston and Shotley Bridge.
Details
The memorial stands on Durham Road, in a rectangular enclosure defined by a low kerb, close to the entrance to Eden Park (Leadgate Football Ground). The kerb carries new ornamental railings and gate. The memorial cross in granite is circa 4m tall, in the form of a Celtic cross rising from a tapering pedestal. The pedestal stands on a granite base, which stands on a stone step surrounded by slab paving. The front face of the wheel-head is ornamented with interlace patterns carved in relief.
The front of the cross shaft is a slightly raised polished panel, on which the principal dedicatory inscription reads TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN MEMORY OF/ THE FOLLOWING MEN/ OF THE URBAN AREA/ OF LEADGATE,/ WHO FELL IN THE WAR OF/ 1914 – 1918. The front and sides of the pedestal are similarly raised and polished, displaying commemorated names listed in columns.
The front face of the base bears the inscription “GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS” whilst further names are recorded to the sides. To the rear of the memorial cross a stone tablet fixed in a concrete base bears the inscription THOSE WHO FELL DURING THE WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (4 NAMES), with a further 46 names recorded on its other side.
Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 ('the Act') it is declared that the paving slabs within the memorial enclosure, and the railings and gate, are not of special architectural or historic interest.
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.
