Stocksfield War Memorial

The Stocksfield War Memorial, built of granite in 1921, commemorates the First World War, with later additions for the Second World War. It stands on the main road through the village, near the village school. The memorial is a Celtic cross set on a squat, tapering plinth, which rests on a stepped base. An initial bronze plaque reads “1914 Our Glorious Dead 1918”. A replacement bronze plaque on the front of the plinth lists the forty names of those who died in the First World War, and a smaller bronze plaque at the base of the cross shaft records the eleven who died in the Second World War. The memorial is situated within a semi-circular, paved garden enclosed by low stone walls with three entrances.

The memorial was constructed through public subscription on land gifted by Lord Allendale and was dedicated in February 1921 by Viscountess Allendale, with a subsequent rededication in November 1946 following the addition of names from the Second World War. The memorial records the deaths of brothers John Gordon Steel and Robert Kingsley Steel, who perished almost two years apart, alongside William Batey Tiffin, a recipient of the Military Medal for bravery. The original plaque commemorating those lost in the First World War was stolen in 2008 and subsequently replaced.

The memorial is designated at Grade II for its commemorative value as a poignant reminder of the impact of tragic world events on the community, its strong cultural and historical significance locally and nationally, and for its well-executed design, which contributes to the local street scene.