Cemetery to become a Car Park

[The Majors Batman]

Just seen this on the BBC web site http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/10411957.stm I wonder if this will affect any CWGC graves

[Peter Bennett]

The article does not make it clear whether all the graves will be covered, presumably the CWGC are aware.

Of the nine CWGC graves, one is of a Canadian soldier. Would the Canadian War Memorial give permission if that particular grave was one which will be lost.

[Terry Denham]

I have contacted CWGC about this story and they have informed me this morning that no war graves will be moved or covered.

They have an agreement that all war graves will remain in place and a new surround is to be built to protect them further.

[michaeldr]

Terry,

Good to hear that

Thanks for the prompt update

regards

Michael

[wulsten]

Interesting story and i must admit it is a bit shocking to think of a carpark being placed over burials even if a hundred years old ?

[The Majors Batman]

I have contacted CWGC about this story and they have informed me this morning that no war graves will be moved or covered.

They have an agreement that all war graves will remain in place and a new surround is to be built to protect them further.

Thanks for that update Terry

[John_Hartley]

shocking to think of a carpark being placed over burials even if a hundred years old ?

IIRC, the definition of "in perpetuity" in English law is 100 years. It's not at all uncommon for burial areas to be "dealt with" after this time.

[Tonym]

Whilst I reluctantly accept that 21st Century man & woman and their cars must be accomodated. However, there could be somebody somewhere on the planet researchng their forebears who finds that their Gt+4 grandparents are now under a car park with no commemoration.

Consequently I feel that, as a result of the healthy income that this car park will produce it should be a legal requirement that a memorial is erected commemorating those resting 'in peace' underneath the tarmac and an indication as to exactly where.

Apart from the possible living descendents of those buried I found, in my cemetery wandering days that no longer exist, a great interest in all of them even though I had no personal connection with the occupants. I am sure that, apart from the members of this forum, there are many others who enjoy the solitude and indeed history, of, not only this cemetery, but others being cleared just for the sake of it. They should all have memorials commemorating those buried their.

On a lighter note the future descendants of 'Time Team' will not have the problem of indentifying the remains of those they unearth.

Tony

[Ghost]

Coincidently yesterday, whilst passing by one of our local Churches, I thought that I would pop in to the graveyard and check to see if a headstone had been erected yet on one of the wifes relatives graves. As I walked along the path in the new section I noticed that the path had recently been edged. I Immediately recognised the edging as cut up slate headstones. I confirmed this when finding a masons name (normally on the back of headstones around here) showing on one of the stones. I then noticed a rather large tent in the old church yard, so of course wondered over to see why. To my dismay I

saw that all the headstones, that had been on one side of the church, have been removed and the area laid to lawn. I say all of the headstones, not quite true the local nobility, ie Baronet Chetwynd, the Marchioness and family, which are so much part of the local history are still in place, luckily tucked away.

I had always wondered why the circumfrential walls of the cemy were lined with old headstones, they are of course from the the other side of the church, which is also laid to lawn.

So I take it perpetuity only applies to the commoner. But why destroy the headstones? I was waiting for the fine weather to research more of the family headstones, now gone forever. Hundreds of years wiped out.

Alan

Further research, has shown that the stones have not been totally cut up, only cropped of about 2ft. which was buried in the ground. The remaining stones have been now been lined up or used as paving.

Alan

Edited 17 July , 2010 by Ghost