RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Wallie Lizzie on Saturday 10 March 12 00:51 GMT (UK)
-
Asda have put forward plans to build a new store in Swinton, Manchester. The plans include removing 313 people who are laid to rest in Swinton Unitarian Church Yard. The last burial was November 1962 just under 50 years ago! Here is a list of surnames of the people buried in the church yard. We are looking for relatives of people buried there. We are opposed to the plan to remove the Swinton people from their final resting place. This includes a WW1 soldier Wilbraham Blears who was buried there will full milatary honours along with 3 men who were killed in the Clifton Pit Disaster of 1885. I have a full list of names, so if you think any of your ancestors are buried there please contact me. Many of these people were local bussiness people who had shops in Swinton for many years.
Surnames of people and how many laid to rest in Swinton Unitarian Church Yard.
Royle x 27
Longworth x 24
Pearson x 12
Pollitt x 12
Smith x 12
Sharples x 12
Worthington x 11
Collier x 9
Bradburn x 8
Crooke x 7
Ormrod x 7
Wolstenholme x 7
Johnson x 6
Musker x 6
Barlow x 5
Gee x 5
Gregory x 5
Evans x 5
Blears x 7
Lee x 4
Higginson x 4
Gregory x 4
Greenhalgh x 4
Davis x4
Lee x 4
Hobson x 4
Holland x 4
Burrows x 4
Cadman x 4
Milne x 3
Lea x 3
Cheetham x 3
Cordwell x 3
Burton x 3
Henshaw x 3
Brookes x 3
Owen x 3
Snape x 3
Thorley x 3
Whitehead x 3
Broadbent x 3
Driver x 2
Henshaw x 2
Lingard x 2
Jones x 2
Johnson x 2
Waring x 2
Pike x 2
Booth x 2
Basson x 2
Llyod x 2
Jones x 1
Lamb x 1
Grundy x 1
Barrett x 1
Royds x 1
Harding x 1
Manion x 1
Lansdale x 1
Humphries x 1
Neild x 1
Bradburn x 1
Higginson x 1
Clarke x 1
Boardman x 1
Walker x 1
Worrall x 1
Redford x 1
Batley x 1
Bate x 1
Cron x 1
Hirst x 1
Price x 1
Higson x 1
Cooke x 1
-
The second son of Edward Blears and Elizabeth Lomax Wilbraham was born in 1895 at the family home on Chorley Road opposite the old Swinton market place. Employed by the Eccles Co-Operative Society he worked in the grocery section of the Swinton branch located on Worsley Road.
94397 Pte. Blears enlisted in the Manchester Regiment February 1916. Once basic training was completed he left for Egypt in the November of that year. After a comparatively short time he was dispatched to France and transferred to The King’s Liverpool Regiment. Early 1917 he was struck down by the debilitating disease Trench Fever and spent a period of rehabilitation in hospital firstly in Dundee and later Blackpool. Blears’ elder brother James Edward of the 19 th Lancashire Fusiliers too endured a bout of the disease; he survived the war and returned home to Swinton.
Once recuperated Wilbraham rejoined his battalion fighting on the front line in France for a further six months before being invalided back home towards the end of 1917 suffering from gas poisoning.
Wilbraham Lomax Blears succumbed to the effects of Gas Shell poisoning and Broncho Pneumonia passing away on Monday 13 th May 1918 at Royd Hall Military Hospital, Lindley, a suburb of Huddersfield in Yorkshire. The funeral with full military honours took place a few days later, his body interred in Swinton Unitarian Church Chapel Yard, Swinton Hall Road, Swinton. A Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone commemorated Wilbraham’s grave. The church was demolished in 1985 his name was subsequently added on a memorial screen wall dedicated to military casualties of WWI in Southern Cemetery, Manchester.
Pte. Blears’ body along with six members of his immediate family and 306 other internments of Swinton people in the Unitarian Chapel Yard are under threat of removal, the bodies to be relocated elsewhere. The grounds of the church and attached burial site lie on land currently being pursued by ASDA - Walmart as part of their proposal to build a superstore in Swinton.
I have formed the "Friends of Swinton Unitarian Burial Ground group" and along with relatives of those buried at the site, local historians and people from the community we are hoping that Asda will amend their current plans. The proposed store is not a problem, but they want the burial ground to be used as an HGV service/turning area so it is possible for Asda to have a new store and preserve the burial ground but the current plans would need amending and re-submitting.
We have spent time in talks with Asda property managers and I am campaigning as hard as possible because I don't believe that a man who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us and who was buried will full military honours should be removed from his final resting place in his family plot.
By Emma Harrison SWARM (Salford War Memorial Society)
-
Also buried at Swinton Unitarian are three brave men who lost their lives in the Clifton Pit Explosion of 1885 which killed 178 men and boys, these men being:-
Joseph Pearson plot no 37 aged 49 of 13 Park St, Swinton was brought out of the pit alive but died a few days later from injuries, he was a day wageman who left behind his wife Sarah Ann and 5 children.
John Collier plot no 38 aged 35 of 5 Folly Lane, bricklayer killed in the pit 18th June 1885 left behind a wife Alice.
John Mannion plot no 16 aged 25 of Holland Street, Swinton coal miner killed in the pit 18th June 1885 left behind 4 children.
Lizzie Leek
-
Please take time to read through this, as it lists many of the families closely connected to the Church and School, some of whom are buried in the Swinton Unitarian Church yard. posted by Lizzie Leek
OFFICERS OF SWINTON UNITARIAN CHURCH 1820 – 1921 1921 - 1958
PRESIDENTS 1820-1921
Henry E. Ermen
George H. Leigh
B.G. Ermen – Vice-President
CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEE
Henry E. Ermen
Reuben Pollitt
Colin Johnson
Robert Royle
Walter Johnson
Walter Stott
James Cadman
Lee Jones
Arthur Evans
CHURCH TREASURERS
Peter Holland
James H. Jackson
Henry E. Ermen
James E. Musker
Walter Johnson
Walter Stott
SECRETARIES
George Dawson
Walter Johnson
Henry Johnson
James Cadman
James Wroe
Ambrose Brookes
James Longworth
Thomas Royle
Horace Lansdale
Fred Jones
Colin Johnson
Thomas Royle
OFFERTORY STEWARDS
George Dawson
Thomas Royle
James Pollitt
James Sharples
John Royle, Senr.
Hy. Longworth
Herbert Clayton
ORGANISTS
James Boardman
John Sharples
George Lea
L.G. H. Crook
James Rowe
John Sharples
James Sharples.
CARETAKERS
Lee Worthington
James Rothewell
William Collier
William Barlow
Henry Longworth
Mrs. Henry Longworth, Senr.
Joseph Schofield
OFFICERS OF SUNDAY SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENTS
William Collier
Lee Jones
Henry Pearson
Reuben Pollitt
Walter Johnson
Arthur Evans
Luke Smith
Walter Phillips
Charles Pollitt
James H. Gee
SECRETARIES
Henry Longworth, Senr.
James H. Jackson
Colin Johnson
Harry pollitt
Walter Johnson
Samuel Royle
Charles Pollitt
Robert Pennington
Wilfred Charlton
Thomas Cadman
Robert Pennington
FINANCIAL SECRETARIES
James H. Jackson
John Collier
Thomas Royle
Robert Pennington
Harry Pollitt
Alice Royles
Ernest Maddock
J.H. Johnson
Ella Brookes
BANK MANAGERS
Peter Holland
Herbert Johnson
William Royle
John Charlton
Walter Johnson
Ambrose Brookes
James Cadman
John Royle, Junr.
Henry Worthington
Thomas Cadman
REGISTRARS
Edward Knight
Frank Collier
James H. Jackson
Leonard Johnson
Thomas Royle
Lee Longworth
Ambrose Brookes
Elizabeth Lee
Henry Longworth
Thomas Cadman
John Royle, Junr.
Rowland V Sharples
LIBRARIANS
Lee Jones
Miss S.A. Pollitt
Herbert Johnson
William Jackson
Charles Pollitt
Robert Pennington
Frank Charlton
Miss Mary Collier
Reuben Pollitt
Miss J. Collier
James Smith
Miss N. Pollitt
Frank Pollitt
Miss Alice Royles
Ernest Smith
Miss Elizabeth Lee
George Pollitt
Miss Annie Longworth
Henry Longworth
Miss Annie Pollitt
SCHOOL ORGANISTS
John Worthington
James Sharples
Mrs. Frank Pollitt
Alice Sharples
H. V. Sharples
JUNIOR ROLL SECRETARY
Miss Eva Thorley
HON. MEMBER SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Miss Mary Longworth
OFFICER OF THE CHURCH 1921 - 1958
CHAIRMAN
1920 L. Jones
1921 A. Evans
1922-23 W. Phillips
1924 W. Brookes
1925 F. Pollitt
1926 A. Wallwork
1927 T. Royle
1928 F. Pollitt
1929 T. Howard
1930 A. Wallwork
1931 L. Johnson
1932 F. Smedley
1933-34 J. Holker
1935 E. pollitt
1936 F. Platt
1937 W. H. Cadman
1938-40 A. Hughes
1941 F. Platt
1942-43 F. Jones
1944 W. H. Cadman
1945-46 F. Platt
1947-53 R. Royle
1954-55 J. Evans
1956-58 T. Howard
SECRETARIES
1920 F. Jones
1921-26 T. Royle
1927-30 J. Holker
1931-33 S. Cron
1934 L. Johnson
1935-37 A. Aspa
1938-44 L. Lee
1945-48 F.B Harris
1949-58 F. Johnson
TREASURERS
1920 J. E. Musker
1921-30 W. Stott
1931-48 A. Wallwork
1949-58 E. Brookes
OFFERTORY STEWARDS
1920 H. Longworth
1921-51 H Clayton
1952-56 Mrs S. Cron
1957-58 L. Johnson
ORGANISTS
1917-51 J. Sharples
1951-52 P. S. Rogerson
1953-58 Mrs L. Brown
-
It's my belief that graves/cemeteries cannot be disturbed for 100 years after the last burial.
I see from the website below that this appears to be the case :
<< Once interred, human remains cannot be disturbed without a special licence. For well over a century, application had to be made to the Home Office. In 2006, responsibility was transferred – along with other burial legislative matters – to the Department for Constitutional Affairs. There has, however, been no change to the requirement to apply for a licence in cases where remains are disturbed, even if that disturbance is accidental. Licenses have never been made available for the purpose of reusing a site for burial, although there are many instances of licenses being issued for the removal of bodies from churchyards to facilitate building, road-widening and other developments. >>
http://www.york.ac.uk/chp/crg/crgcontext.htm
That website gives other information and gives other links which may help, such as English Heritage, etc.
P.S. I have just seen a piece about this case and the question of the 50 year rule. I'd be asking if the council applied for and published that they were authorised to change the terms of the original church's "perpetuity/100 year" agreement.
I also noticed the Planning Officer doesn't seem to be aware of the legalities and I hope that he and the council have been informed in writing that they have not dotted all the i's and crossed all the t's when they sold this land.
-
Thank you so much for that information, I have let everyone know in the Friends of Swinton Unitarian Group which we have on facebook if you wanted to join us anyone?
We are an independant group who are trying out best to stop Asda from removing the dead from their final resting place to make way for a few car parking spaces and a turning point for their lorries. We are a non political group. We will look into this website further and contact English Heritage.
Thank you so much :)
-
Hi,
Wish you every success in stopping yet another cemetery being disturbed and redeveloped >:(.
I hope you manage to find some descendents in time because according to this document:-
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/human-remains-excavated-from-christian-burial-grounds-in-england/16602humanremains1.pdf
"Where human remains have been buried within the past fifty years, any objections from relatives or personal representatives of the deceased are fatal to the development and it may not lawfully proceed." (page 17, paragraph 93)
Have you contacted the local newspapers for help in putting forward your case?
Wonder if the CWGC can help in any way?
http://www.cwgc.org/
Luzzu :)
-
Further to my previous post, I can see you already have the local media involved:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17282546
I hope you find some of the relatives of the deceased in time. ASDA probably know they are approaching the 50 year time limit for objections >:(.
Luzzu
-
Thank you for all your suggestions and help, yes we have contacted the media, and CWWG but anything else anyone can think of will be helpful.. Keep the suggestions coming...and if anyone can attend the Circle of Rememebrance on sat 24th March at the Swinton Unitairian Burial Ground we would be very happy to see you...
-
I have just read your appeal for people with ancesters buried in the Swinton Unitarian cemetary to come forward. I have many relatives buried in that cemetary from the Brookes, Royle, Collier and Pearson families. Of course I would be very much against their remains being removed, as I am sure my (96year old) Grandmother would be too. She still comments on who is buried in different parts of the ground, when we visit the current car park.
-
So glad you have replied here Sue, I have sent you a pm with more information regarding the burial ground. :)
-
Sorry, am new to this site. Cannot seem to open the pm. It tells me I must have reached a limit?
-
Hi,
You need to make three posts before you can send and receive PM's. If you reply to this post, you should be able use the PM system.
Luzzu :)
-
It's ok Luzzu we have now got in touch via email, thanks for the help though :)
There is a meeting of The Friends of Swinton Unitarian Burial Ground at The Red Lion (The Cat) Moorside Road, Swinton Tuesday 24th April at 7 pm if anyone can attend.
There is also a Circle of Remembrance planned for Saturday 12th May at 12.00 midday, for any one who supports not having the 313 people removed from the burial ground.
Regards
Lizzie :)
-
the CWGC cant help you with this,they have no power in these matters,they are only responsible for making sure that the soldiers grave is properly marked and the headstone they erect is properly maintained,they have no say when it comes to the grave itself,because its a private grave,only graves in CWGC cemeteries are their resposibility,when a burial ground becomes redundant,the CWGC make arrangements to remove the headstone and have the soldier commemorated elsewhere,usually at the nearest cemetery.
the only surefire way that this graveyard could have been saved,is if the CWGC had left the headstone where it was,because NOBODY can touch a grave thats in the care of the CWGC
mack
-
Thanks so much for that Mack, we have already been down that route with the CWCG. For some reason Pte. W. Blears is remembered on a war memorial at Southern Cemetry, although I am not sure why as it is way over the other side of town to Swinton. The planning application has been defferred and left in the hands of the Ministry of Justice for the time being.
It is up to the living relatives of anyone buried there to oppose the plans, that is why we are trying to find living relatives. The land was sold by Salford Council with a 50 year convent that it could not be built on until 50 years had passed from the last burial, which was Harriet in Nov 1962.
Please keep spreading the word and hopefully any living relatives can then have the chance to have their say on the matter, before it is too late and the 313 people are removed from Swinton Unitatian Church Yard. I have a copy of the burial book if anyone thinks they have family members laid to rest there.
Thank you for all your support!!
-
Saturday 2nd June 2012 11.45 a march round the outside of Swinton precinct and a circle of remebrance on the burial ground on Swinton Hall Road.......All Welcome!
-
I applaud your efforts in this matter.
I had relatives in the Cheetham hill wesleyan cemetary.
The last burial there was in 1966, but that didn't stop the caring local council and Tesco,s, conspiring in 2003, to bulldose TWENTY THOUSAND bodies up and transfer them to a mass grave in Bury.
Interestingly there has never been any record of valuables recovered from the graves and re-intered with the remains.
Many, many, bones turned up at a land fill site afterwards from the cemetary and I presume the headstones were used as hardcore. >:( >:(
-
It really is disgusting the lack of respect for human life and their final resting places. We can only try and help! :)
-
Hello
Are there any updates on the campaign? I live in Salford and would be happy to help in some way.
Elaine