Summary

First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.

Description

The memorial stands in a small garden at the road junction beside Edington Cottages. The garden is enclosed by a low brick wall with stone coping surmounted by ornamental wrought iron railings. The tall monument, in Aberdeen granite, comprises a Classical urn draped with a cloth standing on the corniced top of a tall plinth. The plinth is square on plan and has a two-stage base. That stands on a sandstone step.

Each face of the plinth is cut back to form a raised, pyramidal, surface bearing inscriptions. The principal dedication, on the front face, reads IN/ PROUD AND GRATEFUL/ MEMORY OF THE MEN OF/ THIS COLLIERY WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR/ 1914 – 1919/ (NAMES). The two Second World War names are recorded on the left-hand side under the dates 1939 - 1945.

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, 7 February 2017.

History

Clara Vale War Memorial was unveiled on 22 October 1921 by Lt-Col FR Simpson, in commemoration of 56 local men who died serving during the First World War. They were all miners from the Clara Vale Colliery. The land was given by the Stella Coal Company whilst the £275 cost of the monument was met by public subscription.

The low wall and railings surrounding the memorial were erected shortly after the unveiling ceremony, by the Stella Coal Co. Following the Second World War the names of two local men who died in that conflict were added. In 2008 the memorial was restored by Gateshead Council.

Reasons for Listing

Clara Vale War Memorial, which stands in the memorial garden, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Historic interest: as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on this local community, and the sacrifice it has made in the conflicts of the C20;
* Architectural interest: an elegant monument in the Classical style.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26678111

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
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  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
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  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock