Atherstone Cemetery and former Lodge
Atherstone Cemetery is on Sheepy Road, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 3AA. It is managed by the Town Council. The Church of England part of the cemetery was consecrated on 26th April 1870. The Coventry Standard reported:
After the service of Confirmation was over, the Bishop proceeded to consecrate the Church of England portion of the burial ground at the cemetery, which is situate about a quarter of a mile from the church on the Sheepy Road, and about 200 yards past the entrance to the hall of C H Bracebridge, Esq. On leaving the church, a procession was formed in the following order: The school children, parishioners and others, the choir (consisting of 12 boys and 12 men in surplices), churchwardens, clergy, and the Lord Bishop. This being a church noted for its ritualistic practices, the choir was preceded by one of the men carrying a banner with the cross on it. The 39th and 49th Psalms were chanted by the choir on the way to the cemetery. The Bishop was received at the entrance to the ground by the Burial Board, the chairman of which is C H Bracebridge, Esq., who presented him with a petition, praying that he would consecrate the ground for a burial place. The Bishop having signified his consent, proceeded with the clergy and people round the ground, saying alternately the following Psalms: the 49th and the 115th. After the sentence of consecration had been read by the Chancellor and signed by the Bishop, a hymn was sung, and the Bishop read the customary prayers and then pronounced the benediction. There was a large concourse of people present.
A meeting of the Burial Board was convened on Wednesday 11th May 1870, to elect a man as sexton to the Cemetery who would live in the cottage, at salary of 18 shillings a week. There were about five applicants. Mr James Clark, (late of Mr Crisp's), was elected. However, on the 19th there was an unfortunate turn of events. The appointment of James Clark was not sanctioned due to a technicality arising between the Vicar and the Burial Board - the Vicar wished to reserve the right to select his own Sexton and receive the fees for this.
The ceremony for the blessing of the Catholic part of the Cemetery took place on Sunday 19th June 1870, with an attendance of about 200.
Mr Charles Holte Bracebridge of Atherstone Hall was himself buried in the Cemetery just two years later, in July 1872.
The Tamworth Herald announced in December 1882 that Mr Alfred Slaney, former gardener to the Vicar of Warton, had recently taken the position of cemetery custodian. He took up residence in the Cemetery Lodge.
In 1891 Alfred's son, Alfred junior, was working as a packer in Atherstone hat factory, but in 1892, at the age of 14, he joined his father working at the cemetery.
Alfred Slaney senior died in 1929. At a Parish Council meeting, Mr Thurlow referred to the death of Mr Slaney, saying that he had been employed at the cemetery for 47 years, and was the cemetery superintendent on his retirement. Had it not been for his skill as a gardener, they would not have had those beautiful shrubs in the cemetery, particularly the hollies, which were much admired. Mr Slaney put his heart and soul into the work. Mr Stringer said Mr Slaney was an old and valued servant of the Council, and his name would always associated with Atherstone cemetery, which was a credit to the town. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to the relatives.
Alfred junior succeeded his father as superintendent. In October 1932 an article in paper the mentioned the large families of blue tits raised year after year in the ivy on the walls of the Cemetery Lodge.
In June 1934 a tender was accepted to renovate the Lodge. Further renovations were authorised in November 1946.
Alfred Slaney junior, the cemetery superintendent, died at the Lodge on 26th December 1949. It surprised me that he was not buried in the cemetery, but was cremated in Canley.
A telephone line for the Lodge was approved in July 1952.
In February 1961 the costs for proposed renovations to the Lodge were estimated at £600. The Council was forced to consider replacing it with a modern house, which might cost about £1000. I suspect this was the last straw for the Lodge. It was demolished in due course, and a modern property was built in its place.
In August 1967 the Nuns of St Scholastica's Priory Convent in Atherstone were reburied in the Cemetery. In the spring of 2007, high winds in Atherstone Cemetery caused a branch to fall and damage the memorial cross marking the nuns' burial place. M G Evans and Sons, Funeral Directors, restored the monument free of charge, and on 17 August, a date coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the convent’s closure, Atherstone Town Council held a re-dedication ceremony attended by Mother Gertrude, the last surviving former resident of the convent and current Mother Superior of Colwich Abbey.
The Friends of Atherstone Cemetery restored the memorial’s surroundings, and the service, officiated by Father Peter Gallagher, was attended by the Town Mayor, councillors, and members of the public.
Atherstone Cemetery remains operational and available for burials. Here is the Find a Grave listing for Atherstone Cemetery.
Jacqui
I have filmed a visit to the cemetery which you can find on YouTube.