Memorial details

Memorial type
Cross
District
Easington
Town
Seaham Harbour
County
Durham
Country
England
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), Second World War (1939-1945)
Maker
T.A. Lawson, surveyor to Seaham UDC (Designer)
McMillan & Sons of Sunderland (Builder)
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 20 Aug 1922
    Attended by: Marquis of Londonderry
  • Dedicated
    Date: 20 Aug 1922
    Attended by: Canon Collins, or Colling, Vicar of Seaham
  • Show More (1)
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
52173

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Current location

on open land between North Terrace and the Shore
Seaham Harbour
Easington
Durham
SR7 7EU
England

OS Grid Ref: NZ 43011 49634
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Cross of Celtic wheel type, 9.3m (30 feet) tall, on an octagonal base with three shallow steps. There is a low railing round the bottom of the pedestal to contain wreaths. The whole is set in a square site with two steps, square corner stones, but no railings. On each face of the pedestal is a wreath carved in half relief inside which are the words “The Immortal Dead”. The dates 1914-1918 and 1939-1935 are on the two adjoining faces. The dedication is at the foot of the tapering shaft of the cross
Inscription
FRONT FACE: IN GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF/ OUR/ FELLOW/ TOWNSMEN/ WHO FELL/ IN THE/ GREAT WAR/ AND/ IN THE/ WORLD WAR/ THE/IMMORTAL DEAD 7.30 FACE: 1914 - 1918 4.30 FACE: 1939 - 1945
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
  • Second World War (1939-1945)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Cross
    Measurements: height C 15FT
    Materials: Granite - Cornish
Listing information
  • Seaham War Memorial
  • Grade II
  • This memorial is protected, and listed on the National Heritage List for England maintained by Historic England. View list entry
  • More about listing and the protection of historic places can be found on the Historic England website
  • Historic England
Condition
History
Vandalised May 2005. Lettering is subject to erosion In 1999 the area around the cross was paved, a grassed area with flowers, seats and a small car park provided There is a metal railing around the base of the pedestal, which was not there originally In 2008, this memorial was to be cleaned and general maintenance work done as part of District of Easington Council’s plans to enhance the area’s appearance. This was due to an approach by Seaham’s Friends of War Memorials Group. The work includes lighting round the memorial repaired, the inscription renewed and the flagstones repointed n 1922: “Three boys who played around the memorial and damaged it were each fined 2 shillings plus 6 pence for the damage and had to pay 4 shilling costs”
Costs

Comments: Marquis of Londonderry gave 100 guineas and paid the outstanding amount of £350

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Public
Reference
  • www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8563
  • Auckland and County Chronicle 19/10/1922 reports the vandalism by children
  • Illustrated Chronicle 21/8/1922 reports unveiling with photos
  • Northern Echo 6/5/1922 reports proposed design; 19/8/1922 reports proposed unveiling; 21/8/1922 reports unveiling
  • Northern Daily Mail 24/11/1920 reports proposals for an institute

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

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© WMR-52173

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