We still need to clean the bricks, highlight the names and/or initials and provide the bricks with a protective coating. Once the mortar hardens, we will complete this work. In phase 2, we hope to lay some paving stones at the front and rear of the wall then tidy up the site.

A WORD OF THANKS

The main purpose of the wall is to pay due respect to the many people from our area who worked in brick manufacture and the building trade.  What better symbol than the humble brick to represent the manufacturing and construction industries? 

Bricks were made locally at Evenwood Gate, Hilton Tarn (Wackerfield) and Randolph (Evenwood).  Elsewhere, special fireclay bricks were manufactured for use in the many coke works located throughout the north east.  These bricks lined the coke ovens where coal was fired to produce coke for use in the iron and steel industry.  We have collected reclaimed bricks from some of the many brick works of south west Durham, others from elsewhere in the north east and some from farther afield.  Today, the Todhills brick works near Newfield remains the only working plant in south west Durham.

We have built the wall using reclaimed bricks.  Most bricks have the manufacturers name or a unique mark on the bed of the brick and these have been exposed to form the commemorative wall.  We have used a foundation stone rescued from (the late) Russell Place’s builder’s yard.  We believe that this belonged to the Primitive Methodist Chapel of 1860 which was the original chapel in Chapel Street.  This became the home of the Evenwood Pentecostal Church, the congregation of which now forms the Cornerstone Christian Centre.  It seems entirely appropriate that this foundation stone has been incorporated into the design.  The history group and the Cornerstone congregation have inserted time capsules in the brick piers. 

We thank many people who have made this project possible – those who have donated bricks, namely Graeme Lamb, Jim Atkinson, John Weir, Billy Francis, Nigel Ord, Lee Sams, Malcolm Bainbridge, Kenny Bowen, Carina Parmley, Russell Bell, Phil Metcalf, Julie Anne Sixsmith, Joseph Maddison, John Teesdale, David Swinbank, Lou Carruthers, Julie Storey, Ian Hutchinson, Kevin Linsley, Martin Simpson,  Evenwood Cricket Club, Jeff & Paula Leonard, Rosella Mariah Cox, Steven Robson, David Appleby, John & Christine Hall, Dawn & Peter Donnelly, Anth. & Emma McCutcheon, John Bogle, Robert S. Gwynn.  Also to be thanked are Sam Hargreaves for finding, donating and helping to move the foundation stone and Kev Bowers for providing the 4 specially engraved bricks.  Others have helped in some way –, Jackie Dodds, Brian Carter, Robert Linsley, Chris Martin, Neil Todd, Debbie and Brad Hugill, Gary Tudor, Stuart Ellison, Andrew Gilbey, the CA Group (Stuart McConnel & Emma McCutcheon), J.T. Atkinson, MKM, and B & A Kitchens.   Clayton Lucas, from Bishop Auckland College, organised for two apprentices, Josh Watson and Lucas Lancaster, to assist our volunteer bricklayer Billy Francis in building the wall, without whom, this project would not have even commenced.  A special thanks goes to Graeme Lamb for pulling the thing together. Councillor Potts provided grant aid to make the project possible and we need to thank Annalisa Ward for helping us complete the application forms, not a simple task! I’m bound to have missed somebody – apologies!

Not least, we must thank Pastor Andrew Kay and the Cornerstone Christian Centre congregation for allowing us to erect the wall on their land.  It provides a boundary to the sensory garden.  The efforts of Martin Paul, from the Teesdale Mercury in giving us good publicity, is always appreciated.

Many thanks. 

Kevin Richardson, on behalf of Evenwood, Ramshaw and District History Society 19 May 2026