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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Tow Law (Tow Law, Thornley, Sunniside, Hedley Hope, East Hedley Hope and Satley)

    Monument

    Source: Copyright Ron Carson

    1/11

    Current Location

    junction of High Street and Wolsingham Road, Tow Law, Wear Valley, Durham, DL13 4EB, England

    OS Grid Reference

    NZ 11942 38616

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-10415

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    Type of Memorial
    Serviceman / Servicewoman
    WMR Reference Number
    10415
    Description
    Italian Marble Statue of soldier standing with rifle at the ready. He is on a tall square pedestal with columns at each corner. Below the statue are sunken panels which bear the dates on two sides in raised letters and the words “For Country” on the front and back. The main pedestal stands on two steps. These in turn rest on two more steps with a low iron railing round. The names are carried in a single column on the sides of the plinth. The lettering is incised and leaded using sans serif capitals. Also a 'Souvenir Booklet' was produced for WW2 for Tow Law, Satley and Thornley. As this was produced in quantity it does not classify as a memorial in its own right for IWM purposes but is an important record of the WW2 service of 474 men from these three villages- containing many photographs; the names, ranks, regiments and honours of both those who fell and those who served and returned. See the 3 NEWMP reports listed under 'References' for a full transcript, history and photographic record of this booklet (this local project does treat this as a memorial).
    Inscription
    For Country / For Country / 1914 / 1919 / Erected / By the inhabitants of / Tow Law, Thornley, / Sunniside, Hedley Hope, / East Hedley Hope / and Satley. / To the sacred memory / of those gallant men / who, at the call of king / and country, left all that / was dear to them, and after / enduring hardships and / facing danger in the Great / European War 1914-1919 / passed among their / comrades by the path of / duty and self sacrifice / giving their own lives / that we might live in / freedom. / Greater love hath no man than this, that / a man lay down his life for his friends/[names] 1939-1945/[names]
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    113
    Died
    113
    Information shown
    surname,rank, initials of forenames
    Order of names
    surname
    War
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Number Commemorated
    34
    Died
    34
    Information shown
    surname,rank, initials of forenames
    Order of names
    surname
    Maker(s)
    • Mr. Thomas Westgarth, Campbell Street, Tow Law, Makers

    Costs
    £600
    Maintenance History
    The original statue had a bayonet fixed to the rifle. This was broken, probably vandalised, c.early 1960s. The broken remnant was removed and the rifle reground. The bayonet is visible in early photos. Repair work has been done (2009) when the bayonet was replaced

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    10 September 1921

    Lieut Colonel Nicholson

    Dedicated

    10 September 1921

    Revd T H Espin

    Custodian
    The memorial was formally handed over to the Urban District Council at the unveiling ceremony

    Components

    Memorial

    Made from: Marble - Italian


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1232521

    • ID 407900
    • http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=9066North East War Memorials Project -
    • Durham County Advertiser 16/9/1921 carries brief report of unveiling
    • In Durham County Archives booklet (Ref. A12/11 p40) of photos of Tow Law history showing procession going through Dan’s Castle on its way to the unveiling
    • Minute Books of the Tow Law Board and Urban District Council (Ref. UD/TL 5 and 6)
    • Memoirs of Tow Law by Mr Newrick Grant; produced by Tow Law Local History Group
    • Tow Law Town Council Minutes2009 P.7 169/09 Clerk's Report that the bayonet had been fixed onto the statue on 5th Nov. 2009 prior to the Remembrance Day Service
    • Illustrated Chronicle 22/9/1923 carries photos of “highest memorial in the district”
    • Stanley News 15/9/1921 reports unveiling
    • Auckland and County Chronicle 15/9/1921 reports unveiling
    • Darlington & Stockton Times (North) 17/9/1921 reports unveiling
    • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 1 to 18: http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=9074
    • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 19 to 38: http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11113
    • WW2 Souvenir Booklet Pages 39 to 50: http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=11114