A group of councillors joined forces to create a new visitor attraction for the County Durham Coastline.
Six Seaham Labour councillors combined Area Action Partnership budgets to purchase a decommissioned 5.5 Inch British Medium Gun, which will overlook the North Sea reflecting the town’s proud history of WWII sea defence and service in worldwide historic conflicts.
The Labour members purchased the gun to celebrate the town’s important role in keeping the shoreline safe during bombing raids, but also to mark the bravery and work of 2nd (Seaham) Durham Artillery Volunteer Corps – a part-time unit of Britain’s Royal Artillery.
Raised by the Vane-Tempest family in 1860, it formed part of the Volunteer Force and later Territorial Force, fighting as field artillery on the Western Front in World War I. Before World War II, it became an anti-aircraft unit serving in the Battle of Britain, the Blitz and in the Far East, converting to medium artillery in the Burma Campaign. Post-war, it continued to serve in the air defence role in the Territorial Army until 1955.
The gun placement is a way of honouring servicemen and women of the town, who gave their lives in service of their country and an interactive display to both educate people about the history of Seaham and provide a visitor experience.
Cllr Dave McKenna said:
“When the opportunity arose to buy this piece of decommissioned artillery, I immediately contacted colleagues and we jumped at the chance of pooling resource to purchase it and develop a site suitable to display it. It’s a fantastic way to honour the 2nd Seaham, our current brave hardworking servicemen and women and provide a community resource to help young people learn about the sacrifice of the generations before them.”
The men that made up the 2nd Seaham Artillery were artillery volunteers comprising bottle workers, labourers, shop keepers and agricultural workers but mainly local miners who dedicated their life to their work, their families and their and they were hugely respected within the Seaham community.
The gun will be maintained and insured by Seaham Town Council, with site works almost completed. Seaham’s Durham County Councillors hope this piece of local history can be accessed and enjoyed by all residents and visitors.
Cllr Kevin Shaw, of Dawdon division, said:
“While we’re all forward thinking and work closely to ensure we continuously improve the communities we serve, protecting the future goes hand in hand with promoting and celebrating our past.
“The Seaham area is proud of its history, heritage and culture. The regeneration work of recent years has transformed the town with attractions like Tommy, the Seaham Townscape Heritage Project, the award-winning Marina and Water Activity Centre and it continues with the impending arrival of an attraction which will open a window on the past.”
The Artillery Gun will be sighted as soon as the final groundworks are completed in the next few weeks.
Alongside Cllrs McKenna and Shaw, the Labour members backing the project are Cllrs Rochelle Charlton-Lainè, Karan Batey, Leanne Kennedy and John Purvis.