Disused Cemeteries - "Action this day"

[malcolm]

Hi everyone

A few weeks ago I started a thread about "who cares" about disused cemeteries and a certain person called Andy wrote:

"Far too many people think someone else will act and save this,save that,so as you have started this thread i would like to offer our help in any way we can to help save our past."

Well I am on my soap box again.

There are more people than I realised do actually care.

So here goes - I may be crying in the wind but my research has revealed that we have a larger general problem that that of 'Dockroyd' alone and here I am - head over the parapet.

There are many 'Friends of ***** Cemetery' including a national organisation and there are quite a few different avenues for funding and grants besides the National Lottery, all that is needed is the will & organisation.

OK - we all have different talents so - lets put our heads together and use them to help deal with this problem.

We owe it to our ancestors - after all - without them none of us would be here.

It does not matter where in the world you live - put your ideas forward, those of us who are 'local' can follow it up.

I use the words of Winston Churchill who wrote on memos during the war - "ACTION THIS DAY" - and he would check the following day to see if it had been carried out.

If its good enough for WSC then it is good enough for me.

I shall be checking to see the response.
Malcolm

[Andy Wade]

Yes, I'll definitely help with this.
I'm not limiting my help to just Dockroyd Cemetery, but all others in the local area.
As a member of The War Graves Photographic Project I have visited quite a lot of the local cemeteries in recent years and the (shall we say) 'Chapel' ones seem to be the worst off.
Dockroyd is a good place to start though as it is definitely at risk.

The owner has been served with a notice to rebuild the front wall by BMDC Planning Officers and he'll have to do it or suffer a fine of up to £20,000. The main aim though is not to fine, but to get the wall rebuilt which will cost him a pretty penny. We'll see what happens as he does have the right to appeal.
There is a lot of strong public feeling about this particular cemetery, so the question of restoration is not going to go away for the owner. He has broken four of the conditions set out in the covenant placed on the land but the Methodist Church has not seen fit to take any legal action against him.

At the moment the feeling locally is to allow BMDC Planning Office to do its job and see what happens.
A local purchase has not been ruled out with an associated 'Friends of' group ultimately looking after the cemetery, but this may be quite some time in the future.

[Admin]

Hi Malcolm and Andy

Add me to this, my particular interest is the old part of St John's not disused BUT misused.....BUT I am happy to help in any way on other cemeteries.

Jan

[ajp1963]

Any thing i can help with just let me know what i can do and im on board

Andy

[Andy Wade]

OK, lets start with a list of the cemeteries that are in need of help or at least tidying up.
Then we can at least begin to see the size of the problem.

[Admin]

5. St John's Ingrow....................the older part near the road......................it is welly and thick gloves job......................................a couple I met there, spend a lot of time keeping the main cemetery tidy BUT could do with some help - they will not touch the old part.

6. BRIGG Quaker Cemetery - Lustre Street - West Lane............Keighley

[Andy Wade]

Update:

[pjd]

Count me in too - living in Somerset makes it a bit tricky but happy to write letters etc
Incidently my email to the Methodist contact re Dockroyd bounced back - any updated address available?
Jill

[barcroftlad]

I'd be happy to write to Alistair Shand at the Keighley News seeking their support for what should be a community project. On the cemetry rundown situation-when we visited in 2001 my wife and I both commented on the run down, overgrown state of the Haworth Parish Cemetry alongside the church. If that one is allowed to be neglected there is not much hope for the rest. I didn't get up there on my last visit, so I don't know what it is like now. Good for you Malcolm, for raising this issue.Cheers.

[malcolm]

Hi Barcroftlad - Haworth Parish Church is much improved now - Anthony of the graveyard is looking after it and he has made a big difference. OK there will be isolated pockets that need extra attention but it is his efforts that are making a difference.

I was in Ryecroft Burial Ground - Harden last month. It is in very good order - so I do know it is being maintained. The grass was like a reasonable lawn and the gate was capable of being opened & closed properly. So I think this one is off the list.

I am coming round to the idea that it might be better to try and get all the cemeteries and relevant church authorites responsible for them on side as it will have more chance of success if we can use a united approach.

I am sure that the churches would welcome any help we would be able to offer.

Adding to the list

Cullingworth Wesleyan Burial Ground - completely overgrown. Inaccessible at present due to the extension being built onto the church, and the church authorities are well aware that they need to formulate a plan of action to deal with their burial ground.

This is where we may be able to use our ideas.

I am informed that any burial ground with any War Graves in it the CWGC has a maintenance agreement with the church. Ths is something that the CWGC will be looking into - I have already contacted them about this issue of derelict cemeteries with War Graves in them.

Let the whisper become a roar.

Malcolm

[Andy Wade]

Oct 26, 2008 21:05:55 GMT malcolm said:

I am informed that any burial ground with any War Graves in it the CWGC has a maintenance agreement with the church. This is something that the CWGC will be looking into - I have already contacted them about this issue of derelict cemeteries with War Graves in them.

Malcolm

Well that's St John's at Ingrow for a start.
I photographed the CWGC stones for TWGPP two years ago and as Jan said, it is in a bit of a state.
Last year I returned though, and quite a lot of clearance had taken place.

The same goes for my visit to Haworth - West Lane Methodist Chapel cemetery to photograph the CWGC stones, it was badly overgrown the first time I visited but late last year a lot of clearance had taken place. Haven't been back since though.

Pleased to hear about Ryecroft.

Incidentally the TWGPP has a policy of informing the CWGC when a headstone was found in need of a bit of TLC and I did report a couple in the area needing attention. They have since been sorted out, not necessarily because of me, but I like to think I helped.

[Admin]

Andy

One of the CWG in St John's is quite badly damaged.....I did take pictures just after the CWGC had been and mown around it.

There are two people who happily give their time to St John's and they do the obvious bits, which show on weddings and funerals BUT they are not young and do not do the badly affected area down the back of the vicarage, this is the bit I would like to get too, I am sure it has not been looked at in years. I promised this couple some help when I met them, whilst I was taking photographs in there. They live on Lauren Fold, the new houses on The Wyrefields......I can easily contact them both. THINK a flamethrower would be a useful tool down there (only joking)

Unfortunately due to malaise on someone's part, there is a massive pile of grass, cuttings and shrubbery to get rid of/burn etc...before it gets bigger...........

I hope we can give some help to these lovely people, who work for nothing.....

Jan

[malcolm]

Hi Jan & Andy,

THe area to the rear of the vicarage was severely vandalised about 10 years ago and this is why there is a problem in that particular area.
Again credit where credit is due, St John's have made a great effort in clearing a lot of the shrubs etc to open up some areas which previously allowed 'unwelcome visitors' to hide.

Does anyone have a large 'shredder' for shrubs like this - it would appear that this would be a very useful 'first item' which would allow the huge piles of shrubs that are removed to be reduced to a managable size, ad allow it to be used for compost. (in line with current buzz words - Eco friendly - carbon neutral - etc)

This appears to be a common problem in all the cemeteries that I visit.

M

[fsharpminor]

I recall St Peters Church in Halifax Road being demolished (we could see it out of our front window at 51 Malsis Rd looking straight down Clarendon Street). Was it late 50's ?
Anyway Im sure there were some graves in the churchyard, but I wonder what happened to them. Were they exhumed or what ?

[malcolm]

Hi fsharpminor,

St Peter's was closed in the mid 50's and demolished soon after - but I don't think there were any burials as the church building took up most of the area within the walled area. I think Jan has an old photo of the church, if not there will be a picture in one of Ian Dewhirst's books.

It is now a car wash - how we treasure our past.

M

[malcolm]

Hi everyone

An update from CWGC about Lance Corporal Colin Alexander Robinson, Australian Infantry, War grave in Cullingworth Wesleyan Cemetery.

CWGC has been in contact with his family to agree a more suitable memorial location for Lance Corporal Robinson, to ensure he is not forgotten, and their website will be updated when this is completed.

"Lest we forget" - A good result so close to the 90th Anniversary of Remembrance Day.

M

[malcolm]

Congratulations are due to Slack Lane Baptist Chapel Oakworth as they have recently cleared all the old part of the burial ground and taken out a lot of bushes and ivy & brambles.

Although there is more work to do it is certainly looking more tidy and cared for.

Credit where credit is due.

M