Hamsterley Colliery War Memorial

Hamsterley Colliery war memorial cross stands in a garden to the north of the main road through the village, opposite Axford Terrace. The tall stone cross is raised on a low bank with to the north a rake of steps leading down onto the lower lawn. A curving hedge encloses the lawn, screening the view to the River Derwent below, whilst modern railings* (that have replaced the original wooden fence) front the garden to the street.

The wheel-head cross is in the form of the St John’s Cross of Iona, with a reliquary modelled at the very top of the cross head and five hemispherical bosses decorating the cross head’s front face. The cross, including the circlet and shaft, is picked out with rope work. The dates 1914 and 1918 are carved in low relief to the front face of the shaft. The cross rises from a broad plinth, which stands on a single-stepped base. The whole is raised on a three-stepped base.

The foot of the shaft at the front face is inscribed: ARTHUR T. WATSON/ MAJOR, K.R.R./ KILLED IN ACTION/ AT PASSCHENDAELE/ 5TH AUGUST 1917/ THE WORKMEN OF THIS/ VILLAGE WISH TO PLACE/ ON RECORD THEIR/ SORROW AT THE LOSS/ OF THEIR FRIEND AND/ EMPLOYER WHOSE/ MEMORY THEY WILL/ HOLD IN AFFECTION/ FOR ALL TIME.

Continuing on the front face of the plinth, the principal dedication inscription is: IN HONOUR OF THE MEN OF THIS COLLIERY WHO/ FOUGHT AND IN EVER GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE/ OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR GOD/ AND COUNTRY, FOR RIGHT, FOR FREEDOM, AND/ FOR PEACE IN THE GREAT WAR./ “SEE YE TO IT/ THAT THESE SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN./ THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE.” Below on the base is carved: HAMSTERLEY COLLIERY.

On the top step is the most recent inscription: IN THE YEAR 2000 AD/ THIS MEMORIAL WAS RESTORED BY/ THE PEOPLE OF HAMSTERLEY AND LOW WESTWOOD/ SO THAT GENERATIONS PRESENT AND FUTURE/ MAY HONOUR THE GREAT SACRIFICE MADE FOR US ALL. The commemorated First World War names are recorded on the plinth faces, whilst Second World War names are recorded on the base.

• Pursuant to s1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 (‘the Act’) it is declared that these aforementioned features are not of special architectural or historic interest.