Ryton War Memorial

The Ryton War Memorial is situated on a high mound at Station Bank, accessible by a long flight of steps from the road below. It is located within the registered battlefield area of the Battle of Newburn Ford and near several designated heritage assets. The memorial features a tall, unornamented Portland stone cross in an early medieval style, which rises from a stepped and moulded pedestal that stands on a stepped base. In front of the cross, on the top step, is a small stone flower vase inscribed with "IN MEMORIAM." Behind the cross, a brick wall with a stone plinth and stone coping, along with short returns on each side, displays five bronze plaques.

The front face of the pedestal is inscribed with the years "1914 1918/ 1939 1945." Two bronze panels on either side of the pedestal commemorate the Second World War, listing names in columns under the dates "1939 – 1945." The main dedicatory inscription is on one of the bronze panels fixed to the rear wall, which reads: "TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF RYTON URBAN/ DISTRICT WHO DIED IN THE CAUSE/ OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND OF FREEDOM/ IN THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR/ AND IN GRATITUDE TO ALMIGHTY/ GOD FOR THE GIFT OF SUCH/ SPLENDID SONS/ HOW SLEEP THE BRAVE WHO SINK TO REST/ BY ALL THEIR COUNTRY'S WISHES BLESS'D!/ OFFICERS/ (NAMES)." The remaining names from the First World War are listed on the other four wall plaques.

It is noted that the metal hand-rail and posts along the center of the steps are not considered to have special architectural or historic interest.