Aberford War Memorial

The Aberford War Memorial is a First World War memorial, designed in 1922 by Sydney Kitson FRIBA, with later additions commemorating the Second World War. It stands on a grass verge, slightly set back from the Great North Road on the eastern side of Bunkers Hill.

The memorial is a classical-style cenotaph consisting of a blocked, rusticated arch, with a projecting moulded cornice, topped by a stylised, two-stepped pyramidal sarcophagus. It rises from a two-stepped plinth, which sits on a concrete base. Each of the north and south elevations feature a square frame containing a laurel cross carved in relief. The rear elevation has a rusticated, tooled surface. The main (west) elevation features a recessed arch with a quarry-faced keystone and crossettes, springing from a projecting fluted impost band that encircles the monument. Two green Westmorland slate tablets are set within the recessed arch and bear black lettering dedicating the memorial “TO/ THE MEMORY/ OF/ THE MEN OF ABERFORD/ WHO FELL/ IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1918/ (24 NAMES)/ AND OF THOSE WHO FELL/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939 – 1945/ (10 NAMES)/ YOUR MEMORY HALLOWED/ IN THE LAND YOU LOVED.” The memorial is constructed from tooled Portland stone, with a concrete base.