The Rev Michael Gobbett, parish clerk Paul Gray, and Julie Hall, chairman of Bishop Middlemam Parish Council, pictured at the Memorial in the grounds of St Michael’s Church
A PARISH council’s bid to restore a village cenotaph in time for the 100th anniversary of the First World War has reached an important milestone.
Bishop Middleham Parish Council has submitted plans to Durham County Council to reposition the war memorial at St Michael’s Church at Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield.
The proposed move follows growing concern about its proximity to the edge of the church yard, which is supported by a bulging stone wall.
It would see the war memorial dismantled and re-erected further back on concrete foundations.
Over the next year, the council also plans to re-engrave the names of the 29 villagers who died in the first and second world wars.
So far, councillors have secured £6,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Grant for War Memorials, which equates to about 75 per cent of the total cost.
They hope to receive a further grant from the Four Together Area Action Partnership to cover the remainder of the costs.
For more details about the project, or if you have any information about the men whose names appear on the war memorial, contact Reverend Michael Gobbett on 01740-620274 or Julie Hall, chairman of Bishop Middleham Parish Council, on 01740-652976.
The public has until December 12 to comment on the application at durham.gov.uk
