MORE war memorials from the North-East have been listed by the organisation Historic England in order to mark the centenary of the First World War.

Listing such memorials brings them under the consideration of the planning system with the aim of protecting them for future generations.

The war memorials, which have been given Grade II listed status, are: Butterknowle War Memorial; Byers Green War Memorial; Castle Eden War Memorial; War Memorial in churchyard of Church of Our Lady of Mercy & St.Godric, Castle Chare; Castleside War Memorial; Easington Colliery War Memorial; Eastgate War Memorial; War Memorial outside St.Oswald’s Church, Church Street, Durham; Clara Vale War Memorial and Cockfield War Memorial (all County Durham).

The Eaglescliffe and Preston-on-Tees War Memorial, in Stockton, is also newly Grade II listed.

Historic England – formerly English Heritage – is encouraging members of the public to put forward war memorials in their community for listing.

In years gone by many war memorials, built as a physical reminder of the sacrifices the First World War brought about, were not thought to be architecturally important enough to get listed status.

But attitudes have changed and Historic England, the War Memorials Trust, and the Heritage Lottery Fund are now providing grants for repairs and conservation.

In the North-East, Historic England is working closely with the North East War Memorials Project, a volunteer run project established in 1988 with the aim of locating and recording every war memorial in the region, between the River Tweed and the Tees.

Carol Pyrah, Historic England’s planning director in the North-East, said: “War memorials are a valued part of our heritage and it is absolutely fitting that we cherish and preserve them for future generations.”

For more information on listing visit www.historicengland.org.uk/listingwarmemorials