|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 20:45:04 GMT
I have finally located the burial record for my gt, gt, gt grandmother PRUDENCE WALLWORK, she was buried in Eccles Parish Church (St Mary the Virgin) on April 6th 1856.
I realise that the graveyard was grassed over in 1966 but from information on their website, records were made of the headstones:
"In the 1960s, the churchyard, which had been a burial ground for over 800 years, was turned into the attractive gardens there today. This conversion was a huge undertaking. A record of all the readable inscriptions -some 10,000 names - had to be made before 10,000 cubic yards of topsoil could be laid and grassed over"
I was wondering if anyone knows how I can find these records please as I would like to know if she had a headstone and if the headstone holds any more clues to my family tree.
Many thanks
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 2, 2011 20:47:07 GMT
Emma, they've got the transcription of the memorials at Salford Local History Library. I phoned them today and asked when I read the same thing on the Church website. The transcription is in book form. I'll have a look at them next time I'm there, which may be next Wednesday night.
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 21:00:49 GMT
Thanks Jim, you're a star
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 21:04:25 GMT
I wonder if there were any War graves in there
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 2, 2011 21:35:05 GMT
I didn't find any listed for the church on CWGC when I was checking through for the Civilian Casualties. There are a number listed for Eccles Municipal Borough, but it doesn't state where they are buried, but my first guess would be a municipal cemetery. I'm pretty sure that the CWGC would have ensured that any of 'their' graves were marked and the stones preserved though, as I understand that they are pretty when it comes to them.
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 21:37:45 GMT
I've started to have a rummage around the internet for various bits and bobs relating to this church - it's a very interesting place, I've become rather fascinated with it now!
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 21:40:38 GMT
I'm pretty sure that the CWGC would have ensured that any of 'their' graves were marked and the stones preserved though, as I understand that they are pretty when it comes to them. what a shame that ordinary folk (like me) don't have the opportunity to preserve any family gravestones at this church, the opprotunity went in 1966 - over a decade before I was born
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 2, 2011 21:43:54 GMT
The way I read it from their website, we were right about the stones. It reads like they are definitely still there buried under a layer of soil and grass. I'll get those photos off my camera and post them soon.
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 2, 2011 21:51:17 GMT
Image of church and churchyard before the grassing-over of the 'gardens' in 1966. It looks like the churchyard was made up of predominantly recumbent stones. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Hawker Hurricane on Feb 2, 2011 21:53:31 GMT
The South View giving a flatter perspective of the memorial slabs all lying flat. Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 2, 2011 22:39:42 GMT
The way I read it from their website, we were right about the stones. It reads like they are definitely still there buried under a layer of soil and grass. now...where is my soapbox...I feel I need to get on it
|
|
broomy
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 397
|
Post by broomy on Feb 3, 2011 10:03:27 GMT
When i was a young child this was one of my playgrounds----suicidal when i think of it now. I used to walk rhrough it on my way to and from Eccles (although there were other routes). I have a friend in NZ who has visited 2 or 3 times in the 9 years i've known her. Her family are buried in St Marys and the Weslyan chapel in Barton. I helped to locate one particular grave for her just 3 weeks before barton burial ground was turned into a car park. We went in the Refectory in St Marys for a cuppa and got talking to the vicar and, when Jane mentioned her connection, he toddled off...and came back with a big book full of information on all the Gibson burials in the churchyard. As well as the SLHL the church itself may hold the info you want.
Her father was born in in his fathers master butchers shop in Church street.....long before it became Woolworths, Wilkinsons etc---we'd die for a picture of it. I met Mr Gibson twice Her Great, great uncle Rueben Gibson was killed in fox street.....between what was the Hare and Hounds and The Fox Vaults. So, try the church first.
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 3, 2011 11:57:40 GMT
Thanks broomy, I have the phone number so will give them a call. I suspect that my family wouldn't have had enough money for a headstone so it's a long shot. What I really want to know is who is in the plot with her but this is a problem I have come up against time and again - all the churches have records of who was buried and when but no information on plot numbers so it's difficult to determine who is in with who and where they are regardless of wether or not there was ever a headstone
|
|
broomy
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 397
|
Post by broomy on Feb 3, 2011 12:21:44 GMT
I'll ask Jane if she got info of all the occupants of each grave. I'll ask her this evening----she's in bed at the mo.
|
|
|
Post by Spitfire on Feb 3, 2011 12:24:06 GMT
Thanks broomy, it would be good to know
|
|