Staindrop historians bag Lottery grant for project to remember those who served

A FUNDING victory has enabled a group of Staindrop history enthusiasts the chance to press ahead with a new project which aims to remember all villagers who fought in the Great War.

A successful application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has resulted in a grant of £6,800 being awarded to the Staindrop Remembers WW1 Group.

The group’s three members, Jennifer Priestley, Diane Ball and Jill Barr, plan to follow on from an earlier project which told the story of 40 local men who died during the war and who are named on the war memorial in St Mary the Virgin Church.

The trio, and anyone else who comes forward to volunteer, will now research and produce individual biographies of the 182 men and women who came home.

The findings will be compiled in a book which will include stories about where they lived and worked as well as family connections and details of their service records.

Ms Ball said: “We are thrilled and excited to have received this support. Thanks to the National Lottery players and to the Scarth Hall trustees for helping us achieve this goal.

“We are confident that the knowledge we gain on this project will be passed on to the community for future generations.”

A community event will be held on November 10 next year to rededicate the Scarth Hall’s 1920s extension which, was built by public subscription in memory to the fallen.

An illuminated plaque, listing the names of those who died, will be commissioned and placed outside of the memorial room.

A smaller plaque will also be sited on the outer walls of the building to highlight the presence of the room.

The book of remembrance will be kept at the Scarth Hall so that members of the public have access to it. The group is also planning to create a digital version which will be available on a website.

Ms Barr said: “We started off with our family trees and it just went from there.

“You hear the names being read out during the Remembrance services and you do think, who were these people?” she added.

“I think it is very important that we keep the memories alive of those men who went away and also to find out what happened to them when they came back.”

Volunteers will receive training in archival research from Durham Records Office to enable them to visit and explore a range of archives and collections and study the close connections with the Raby Estate.

Residents are being encouraged to come forward with their own family stories relating to the First World War so that their memorabilia and photographs can be recorded as part of the project.

Members of the group will also be delivering sessions to schools and organisations to help young people understand the impact the war had on their village.

Anyone interested in helping with the project can contact Ms Ball on 01833 660288, Ms Barr on 01833 660960 or Ms Priestley on 01833 660428.