Pontefract Burials

[JillStatton]

Can some kind soul please sort my confusion and confirm for me that, despite burials being recorded in the Parish Registers of St Giles, Ponty, the actual interment was in the graveyard of All Saints, Ponty until 1810, when this graveyard was the sole burial ground for the whole of Pontefract?

What happened after 1810 and until the Pontefract Cemetery was opened in 1859?

Where were the burials in St Giles' registers actually interred?

With thanks,

Jill Statton.

[dobfarm]

Hello Jill

Pontefract St Giles grave yard seems to be swallowed up in the city centre pedestrianization that will/may incorporate all the grave stones in its pavements around the church like Wakefield Cathedral.
If you contact these  links that may help you! as Library MI's they will give you details (if any found) over the phone free or send copies of event at overseas cost! being postage the main part of the cost! copies about a Aus dollar or email details free and also can purchase CDs MI's from Pontefract family history society

http://www.genfair.co.uk/product_list.php?sid=94&page=19026

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Investigate/WhereToGo/Pontefract/default.htm

There maybe someone who lives there in Ponty who may have a look at the pavements Epitaphs being in the city centre though.

Dave

[onefortheroad]

Hi Jill.

Following on from Dave's excellent reply, and in answer to his closing remarks; to my almost certain knowledge, there are no epitaphs, memorials or other burial markers in the pavements surrounding St.Giles' church.
The buildings adjacent to the church, with the exception of the library, are all contemporary or earlier and the alleyways that separate the buildings are original, having blue plaques right left and centre.
I'm pretty sure that St.Giles' burials were carried out at the cemetery on Skinner Lane, Pontefract.

The definitive guide to all things Pontefract past and present is on the web:-

http://www.pontefractus.co.uk/index.htm

It's a bit of a maze of a website but you'll find your answers on there somewhere.

You may also find some relevant information in the WMDC Burial Registers Online:-

http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CommunityAndLiving/BereavementServices/GenealogySearches/default.htm

Good hunting,

David

[Scurr Lady]

Pontefract St Giles has NEVER had a burial ground.

All Saints Pontefract was the original Parish Church but was so badly damaged in the Civil War that the Chapel of Ease, St Giles became the Parish Church.

All interments were continued in All Saints burial ground.

All Saints was re-opened for use in 1842, some 200 years after it was closed.

Burials from St Giles, did not stop in 1810, I don't know where this information is from, even after the Cemetery opened some families were still buried in All Saints Graveyard, much of which no longer exists.

Sharon Buchanan
Pontefract Family History Society