Summary

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

Description

The c4.5m tall granite memorial stands to the west of Bolt’s Burn. It takes the form of a wheel-head cross bearing a reversed sword carved in low relief on the front face. The cross shaft rises from a small pedestal which stands on a tapering plinth. The plinth is raised on a two-stepped base.

The principal dedicatory inscription on the front face of the small pedestal reads FOR HOME AND COUNTRY./ ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE/ MEN FROM THIS PARISH WHO/ SERVED IN THE GREAT WAR/ 1914-18. The front face of the plinth is inscribed THOSE WHO FELL/ (NAMES) whilst the remaining three faces are all inscribed THOSE WHO RETURNED followed by lists of names. A small tablet on the lower step of the base carried the later inscription, reading IN MEMORY OF THE MEN WHO/ SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR 1939-1945/ KILLED IN ACTION/ (NAMES). All the inscriptions are in applied metal letters.

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, 22 February 2017.

History

The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and also the official policy of not repatriating the dead: therefore the memorials provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss. One such memorial was raised at Rookhope as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War.

The memorial was unveiled in December 1921 by Lt-Col J Gray and dedicated by Reverend HGH Shaddick. It commemorates not only the 12 local servicemen who died in the First World War, but all those who served. The memorial was made by Aves of Hexham. Following the Second World War the names of three men who died in that conflict were added.

Reasons for Listing

Rookhope War Memorial, which stands c20m to the west of Boltsburn Bridge, 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: a simple yet poignant memorial cross;
* Group value: with The Rookhope Inn (Grade II).

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q66478150

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

• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)