A war memorial in the village of Burnhope, near Consett, is to be rededicated today following a £90,000 renovation project.
Burnhope War Memorial, on Holmside Lane, was first unveiled in September 1920, in the wake of the First World War.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of local people, the memorial has recently undergone an extensive programme of repairs. The renovation work, which included the replacement of rooftiles and bricks, was completed in October.
The money raised will also be used to help local volunteers conduct case studies focusing on village life and on the servicemen who came from Burnhope. An educational programme – which will form part of the local primary school’s curriculum – will also be created.
These projects will be put into practice with the help of officers and volunteers from the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and Durham County Record Office. The case studies will be brought together and presented in a special edition of the Burnhope Wheel newsletter in early 2018.
Burnhope Parish Council, the Friends of Burnhope War Memorial and Mid Durham Area Action Partnership all worked together to secure the £90,000 of funding.
The money came from sources including the War Memorial Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and the Langley Wind Farm Community Benefits Fund, in addition to the village’s parish council.
Cllr Ossie Johnson and former councillor Richie Young also contributed funding from the Area Action Partnership budget.
Cllr Ossie Johnson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues, said, “The Burnhope War Memorial is a unique and significant structure and is seen by residents as a valuable part of the heritage of the parish.”
“Many local families are connected to the memorial, and this has helped the volunteers pull together several case studies that show what it was like to grow up in Burnhope as well as the horrors of war.”
The rededication ceremony will take place at 1.45pm on Friday 10th November.
The ceremony will be attended by the chairman of Durham County Council Cllr Bill Kellett and a number of other councillors. Also attending will be representatives of the War Memorial Trust, Burnhope Parish Council, Durham County Record Office and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
DLI volunteers, local residents and members of the Friends of Burnhope War Memorial will also be present. The rededication ceremony will be conducted by Reverend Rupert Kalus and Reverend Stuart Earl.
