We've visited Wooler a number of times, and have just learned recently about the war memorial on Tower Hill. The memorial sits on top of the ruins of Wooler Castle which originated here in the 12th century, beginning life as a wooden structure before it was transformed into a fortified stone tower during the Anglo-Scottish wars in the 16th century.
The castle began life as a motte and bailey built by the Muschamp family in the early 12th century. However, records from 1255 describe it as a "waste mote of no value", suggesting it was abandoned early on. It seems as though no improvements were made to it until the 16th century when it would have been rebuilt as a 3 or 4 storey tower, part of a chain of defences along the borders. It would have been a structure similar to Dryhope Tower, with several floors and a strong vaulted basement surrounded by an outer wall known as a barmkin.
Not much of the tower is left now, but you can see how solid the walls would have been at around 1.5 metres thick. The war memorial stands on top of one of the remaining parts of the tower and was unveiled in 1920 to commemorate the 72 local men who lost their lives in the first world war, and later 28 names of soldiers who died in the second world war were added. Its position on the hill was chosen so it can be seen from the town and it overlooks the beautiful countryside which the local men who fell would have been familiar with.
On one side the inscription reads: To the memory of those from the Wooler district who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1919. Their name liveth for evermore.
On the opposite side: No hate was theirs, no thirst for fame, when forth to Death by Honour sent. Life beckoned sweet, the Great Call came, they knew their duty and they went.
A lovely place to sit and ponder for five minutes.
