West Norwood Cemetery - Hennings - Mary & Charles Frederick

[Tonykelly]

West Norwood cemetery rang a bell (very belatedly I’m afraid). THe council were taken to court 20 odd years ago for vandalising many of  the graves.  It seems that at least part of the cemetery is subject to Faculty jurisdiction ie Church Courts - Southwark anglican diocese in this case.

This gives the background. — just read management summary first paragraph.

https://moderngov.lambeth.gov.uk/documents/s107141/CMDDR%20Governance%20arrangements%20for%20West%20Norwood%20Cemetery.pdf

See also the Friends of West Norwood cemetery web site
https://www.fownc.org/search/

We have just over 500 names in the Surrey MI Index from this cemetery, but not the ones you are after unfortunately.

HTH

Tony Kelly, 
Monumental Inscriptions Manager
Surrey Monumental Inscriptions Library
West Surrey Family History Society

http://www.wsfhs.org
tracing our roots ….
…. celebrating our heritage

[aussie researcher]

Thanks Tony,

Sad but interesting read, makes it more understandable why there are not headstones.
Other than damage due to Bombing years ago.

The FOWNC have been most helpful.
The family are keen to replace or at least have some kind of monument placed to represent the families. I believe there will be many to be represented.

Thanks again

Aussie Researcher

[Chris Doran]

One of the things that came out of the legal hoo-ha was this Database of Reused Graves at West Norwood. No Hennings listed, so the disappearance of their gravestone must be for other reasons, but there are some Druces:-

Grave number: 168-78
Deceased:
George Druce buried in 1854
John Druce buried in 1840
Mary Druce buried in 1883
Susannah Hack buried in 1874
Thomas Druce buried in 1854
William Druce buried in 1847
William Druce buried in 1851

Grave number: 6532-62
Deceased:
Ann Druce buried in 1859

which I rather fear are among yours. The database doesn't say who's buried there now, and I think the plot number changes when a grave is resold, so a map will be needed to find the spots. I don't think you'll be allowed to put a headstone on a reused plot, but you could name them on a Hennings headstone with "buried in plot xxxx-yy" or "buried elsewhere in this cemetery".

[aussie researcher]

Thanks Chris,
This is imformative.
I guess the family can create a headstone with as you say a list of those who are buried in the cemetery but not able to have an individual headstone.
It might be the cost affective way to do it too.
It is very sad but when someone has died over 150 years ago.
Without this research now they would have gone on being forgotten.

I'm sure the family will find a way to remember these family members for the future.

Thanks again Chris and everyone.