Walking down Main Street in Kirkburn towards the Church, and in the centre of the village, one is struck by an obelisk style cross on the right hand side. Many people think that this is the war memorial for those who lost their lives in the world wars of 1918 and 1939.
It is a very natural mistake to make; however, the site
occupied by this cross was formerly the site of a great elm tree .measuring 27 feet in circumference near the ground, but in 1862, its size was gradually diminishing through the decay of its wide spreading branches. The roots were completely bare and formed a tier of seats for the villagers. One can imagine the scene on a Sunday morning after church.
Because of this decay the tree eventually had to be cut down. There was a rumour in the village that treasure was buried underneath the tree, and when the time came to dig up the roots, one family actually camped out so as to claim the treasure when it surfaced. There is no record that this endeavour was successful.
So what seemed to be a war memorial is not so ! But Kirkburn does have a war memorial; it is the imposing clock mounted in the walls of the church tower, There is a brass
plaque in the church naming those who died that we might
be free
