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St Oswald's Church, Durham
Town or City: Durham
County: County Durham
Country: England
WMT Reference Number: WM3532
Value of grant: £1622.00
Type of memorial: Freestanding
Type of work: Conservation and repair
Grant scheme: Small Grants Scheme
Year: 2010
UKNIWM reference number: 10238
St Oswald's Church war memorial is on Church Street in Durham. It stands about 70 metres north of the Church in a paved area. It is a Calvary on an octagonal concrete column which stands on a plinth with a three-stepped base. Bronze plaques are positioned on the four faces of the plinth. St Oswald’s Church is Grade II* listed and stands in the Durham City Centre conservation area.
In 2010, a grant offer of £1,622 was made towards the replacement of two bronze plaques stolen from the memorial around October 2009; these matched the original plaques in style and font and had anti-theft fixings added. In addition, the memorial was cleaned by hand with de-ionised water and non-metallic bristle brushes. 
Damaged areas of concrete from the steps were also cut out and repaired in concrete, matching in colour and texture.
It was agreed to create the memorial at a Parish meeting in 1919 and it was designed by the Diocesan Architect W. H. Wood. As the quotes for the work were too expensive the design had to be simplified. The memorial was dedicated on Saturday 19th March 1921 by Bishop Henson of Durham
and unveiled by Mrs Roberts of Hollingside Hall; a large donor to the memorial and also lost two sons in the War (there is a window in the Church dedicated to them).
Further information
War Memorials Trust reference WM3532
UK National Inventory of War Memorials: 10238
War Memorials Online: 113250
The National Heritage List for England: 1120678
If you have a concern about this memorial please contact the Trust on conservation@warmemorials.org
