Update regarding burials & Garden of remembrance
It is sad that the Friends of Calderstones and Brockhall Hospital Cemeteries have again made allegations that they have identified burials in the cemetery, on this occasion based solely drone photographs of lines made by grass cutting. Irresponsible statements such as these that cause stress to the families who may have friends or relatives buried in Calderstones Cemetery. We believe we must respond to the recent unfounded allegations and support the families of relatives. Should anyone have any concerns about the cemetery, we suggest you contact us direct so we can assist you.
The Friends have made the following allegations:
Cemetery Cross-Paths
The Friends have published photographs on their website alleging that some discolouration in the grass on the site is evidence of ‘disturbance’, yet anyone carrying out grass cutting on their own lawns have seen this type of pattern after the grass has been cut. The explanation lies in the way the grass had been recently cut by our contractor, and he has confirmed this was the manner in which they carried out that operation. To suggest that this ground has been disturbed and insinuate, without any evidence at all, that the disturbance may be burials, is simply attempting to cause upset to families that may have relatives buried in the cemetery in support of their quest to stop the building of the crematorium. Photographs taken by a drone operator from many metres in the air cannot compare with the detailed ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey carried out by a company experienced in working in burial grounds, using the best available technology.
The Friends suggest that they have been denied access to the survey saying, “…it was Mr Dunn, who refused the author of the report, permission to discuss the report with suitably qualified members of the Friends”.
The suitably qualified person actually received a six-page response from the owner’s surveyors and the Friends have had full access to the results of the survey.
The survey clearly shows there are no potential burials within the area where the building is to be built, and the company who carried out the scan have once again confirmed this.
The following figures show two examples of the scans received, one showing the Garden of Remembrance, which is located to the south of the main road, and one showing the equivalent area to the north of the path.
Figure 1 shows the Garden of Remembrance located south of the main roadway. It is full of shadows showing the buried urns. The shadows west of the garden relate to the ground disturbed by contractors and where a hard-core base has been laid in error six years ago.
Figure 2 shows a similar area to the north of the main roadway. Clearly there are no shadows similar to the Garden of Remembrance, nor are there any such shadows elsewhere on that side of the path. Photographs showing the time the Garden of Remembrance was being laid out are shown below, note there is no evidence of any garden on the northern side of the roadway.
None of the available records show any northern garden, alleged to have been filled before the actual Garden of Remembrance was started. Even the photographs supplied by the Friends (see above) show this to be untrue. In the two photographs above, showing the square Garden of Remembrance being laid out, there is absolutely no evidence of a similar area on the opposite side of the road, this is confirmed in the GPR survey scans.
Unfortunately, the Friends continue to make unsupported allegations regarding burials in the cemetery, however, these are based on memories of people who worked in the hospital over 20 years ago. We have no names being provided for those alleged to be buried, we have been provided with no records to support such allegations and the stated aim of the Friends is to stop the development of the crematorium, despite our commitment to the following:
A communal memorial for all buried in the cemetery
Individual memorials for each of the Booth Hall Babies
Information boards throughout the grounds providing information on the heritage of the cemetery
An electronic book of remembrance that will contain the names of all buried in the cemetery, with an ability to add information relating to their lives in the hospital
Staff available to assist visitors who may wish to visit the graves of their relatives and provide tea and coffee
Seating to allow visitors to spend time contemplating their loved ones in some comfort
Walks through the woodland area
All of the above can only be achieved with a regular sustainable income from the crematorium. A private cemetery has already been tried between 2002 and 2004 and it failed. The Friends hope that the costs of purchase, expensive refurbishment and ongoing maintenance will be funded by the public purse, yet we are already aware that the majority of public cemeteries operate at a significant annual loss. It is unlikely that any public body will add to their costs by taking on such a cemetery, therefore the likely result of such persistence will be the continued deterioration of the grounds and buildings within the cemetery, with those buried sadly being consigned to history and forgotten in time.
