War memorial outside St Oswald's Church, Durham

The war memorial is located at the north-east entrance to the churchyard of St Oswald's Church, which is a Grade II*-listed building. It features a stone Calvary cross that stands approximately 6 meters tall. The Calvary has a gabled top with a scroll displaying the letters INRI above the figure of the crucified Christ. The head of the cross rises from a moulded collar, and the tapering octagonal shaft is set on a square pedestal with broached corners. This pedestal is supported by a square base that has three steps.

Inscriptions are cast into bronze plaques on the pedestal. The main dedicatory inscription on the front reads: "TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND IN HONOUR OF/ ALL THE PARISHIONERS WHO SERVED/ AND IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ FOR THE CAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS/ AND PEACE IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-1918 R.I.P."

The names of those who served in the First World War are listed on rectangular bronze plaques on the other three sides of the pedestal. Additionally, two smaller plaques have been added to each side of the pedestal to commemorate those who served in the Second World War.