War memorial in the churchyard of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric

The war memorial is located in the churchyard of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy and St Godric, which is also a Grade II-listed building. It is positioned on the north side, overlooking Castle Chare and offering views of the city of Durham. The memorial features a tall, gabled Calvary cross made of Portland stone. The cross shaft rises from a six-sided pedestal that has a trapezoidal shape.

On the front face of the pedestal, there is a panel of blind arcading with the main dedicatory inscription carved into it: "THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF ST. GODRIC'S PARISH TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE BRAVE MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918. R.I.P."

On either side of the pedestal, there are relief carvings of a soldier and a sailor with their arms reversed. The names of those commemorated are inscribed on the two outermost faces of the pedestal. Additionally, a small cross of St Cuthbert is carved in low relief in a roundel on the rear. The pedestal is set on a three-stepped base.