Ryton War Memorial

The memorial stands on a high mound on Station Bank, approached by a long flight of steps from the road below. It is within the area of the registered battlefield of the Battle of Newburn Ford and is in close proximity to a number of designated heritage assets. It takes the form of a tall Portland stone cross in the early medieval style, but un-ornamented, that rises from a stepped and moulded pedestal. The pedestal stands on a stepped base. A small stone flower vase stands before the cross on the top step, inscribed IN MEMORIAM. To the rear of the cross a brick wall with a stone plinth and stone coping and short returns to each side carries five bronze plaques.

The front face of the pedestal is inscribed 1914 1918/ 1939 1945. Two bronze panels to either side of the pedestal record the Second World War dedications, with names listed in columns under the dates 1939 – 1945. The principal dedicatory inscription is recorded on one of the bronze panels fixed to the rear wall, reading 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 First World War names are listed on the other four wall plaques.

Pursuant to s.1 (5A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas ) Act 1990 ('the Act') it is declared that the metal hand-rail and posts running up the centre of the flight of steps are not of special architectural or historic interest.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register. These sources were not used in the compilation of this List entry but are added here as a guide for further reading, 23 February 2017.