The War Memorial was designed by Cacket and Burns Dick, Architects, Newcastle upon Tyne with the building work carried out by Messrs Ayton of Blackhill, Builders and Contractors. Work was also carried out by Messrs Lee and Dunn and an acknowledgement was also made to Mr J Snaith and Mr Marshall for their excellent work. The cost was £1,340-19s-4d (materials £667-3s-10d, Labour £673-15s-6d) and this was paid for by Mr Utrick A Ritson of U A Ritson and Sons who were the owners of Burnhope Colliery. Thanks were offered to ‘Miss Allgood’, the local landowner, for allowing the facilities to be constructed on her land.
The War Memorial was unveiled on 9th September 1920 by Mr U A Ritson at the same time that he also opened the gates of the newly created public park beyond the memorial which the colliery had gifted to the people of the village. The service of dedication was conducted by the Rev. W Chapman, Vicar of Holmside with the Rev J Drummond (Wesleyan) and Rev. W Morrow (Primitive Methodist) also in attendance.
Representatives of Durham Mineworkers Association spoke at the dedication saying that they were indebted to the Ritson family for doing their utmost to improve conditions for dwellers in Burnhope. Mr Ritson responded by saying how pleased he was that he had been able to offer employment to all their employees who had returned safely from the war. On behalf of the Village Improvement Committee Mr J Hobbs then presented Mr Ritson with a handsome walking stick.
Prior to the ceremony an ‘imposing’ procession including ex servicemen made its way through the village accompanied by Burnhope Colliery Band. Following the dedication service the colliery owners provided tea in the park for the children of the village together with the relatives of ex servicemen. This was followed by sports and displays by the boy scouts and girl guides.
During the six years of the Second World War the people of Burnhope raised funds not only to enable comforts to be sent to the servicemen but also to give those who survived a welcome home and a Roll of Honour. A personalised copy of the Roll of Honour was sent to each of the bereaved families together with a letter.
The Burnhope War Memorial Committee issued an appeal to local people to raise the necessary funds for a Ceremony of Unveiling and Dedication Service and this took place on 10th June 1950.
The NCB carried out repairs to the memorial and the site on which it was constructed was handed over to the local council by its owner Mr Allgood. The Garden of Remembrance was created at this time and two more memorial tablets containing the names of the 2nd World War dead were added.
The Ceremony of Unveiling was carried out by Lord Lawson of Beamish who at the time was Lord Lieutenant of Durham, with the Dedication of the Garden of Remembrance and the re-Dedication of the Memorial being conducted by the Rev. Val Green, Vicar of Holmside.
Every year on Remembrance Sunday in early November (nearest to Armistice Day) a service is held at the war Memorial at 11:00 to remember those who laid down their lives during both World Wars.