D
Darthdc
Guest
My dad has often drove past this wondering whether it is a small cemetary or the graveyard of a long gone church. I'm talking of the small burial area not far from Masshouse Street.
-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
S
Steve C
Guest
I think was possibly once possibly part of St Batholemews, Jennens Row, built 1749 and since demolished. The map below is 1890
Chris_Baker
master brummie
Does anyone know of any burial records of this site? A member of my family is in there, I believe.
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
There were at least three cemeteries moreorless next to each other in this area.
St Barthomolew's Church was built in 1749, onj land given for the purpose by John Jennens (descendant of James Jennens) of Copsal, Leicestershire, and wealthy landowner in Birmingham. He must have died before the buildinbg work started, as histrorian William Hutton wrote that his widow was persuaded by Mrs Weaman (another wealthy landowner and benefactor) to give £100 towards the construction. It was on the north side of Masshouse Lane and Duddeston Row, and under or immediately to the south of the new Jennens Lane.
The other two sites have been public gardens for well over a century, but they were laid out as as cemetery overflow for St Martin's Church, which must have been filled before 1800. They are on the east side of Park Street, and quite a pleasant place today.
Peter
It was
St Barthomolew's Church was built in 1749, onj land given for the purpose by John Jennens (descendant of James Jennens) of Copsal, Leicestershire, and wealthy landowner in Birmingham. He must have died before the buildinbg work started, as histrorian William Hutton wrote that his widow was persuaded by Mrs Weaman (another wealthy landowner and benefactor) to give £100 towards the construction. It was on the north side of Masshouse Lane and Duddeston Row, and under or immediately to the south of the new Jennens Lane.
The other two sites have been public gardens for well over a century, but they were laid out as as cemetery overflow for St Martin's Church, which must have been filled before 1800. They are on the east side of Park Street, and quite a pleasant place today.
Peter
It was
W
Wendy
Guest
Burial records for St Bartholomews from 1752 to1847 are held at the mother church of St Martins. The churchyard closed in 1861 though internments in family vaults still took pace until 1899. The church was closed in 1937, and suffered bomb dammage during the second world war. It was demolished soon after.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Heard today that they are doing an archaeological dig before work commences on the new line. Apparently there is a notice posted in Park Street and they have fenced off the Park Street burial ground. Don't know any more as yet.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
I would imagine they are going to remove any burial remains that might still be there as this is the usual procedure when building over old burial grounds.
Yes they will remove remains before anything. When I visited the Archives a few weeks ago they showed us a map which had originally been made on tracing paper showing the graves, but which had broken into lots of fragments over the years . The HS2 people had paid the library to put all the fragments together so that they could see where the (known) graves were in an aid to the recovery of the remains
took a look today at the park st burial ground..as pen said surrounded by boards so i walked the length of them and the only gap i could find was about 3 inches wide...very hard to angle the camera but from what i could see all the remaining headstones bar one which is showing in the photo have gone...it kind of looks as if any remains that may have still been there have been taken away and the ground looks like it has been covered in some sort of bark...please do not take my word for this folks as it is only what i am presuming based on what i could see..they certainly did not want the public having a good view of this sitelyn
View attachment 121878
Thanks for doing that Lyn. Viv.
as some of you know this old burial ground has been taken over to make way for HS2..cant be certain but i think that any remaining bodies have now been removed along with all if not most of the headstones...here is an aerial view of the burial ground as it is now..on the right hand corner is the very old fox and grapes pub which will be demolished to also make way for HS2..in my opinion they have a lot to answer for
lyn
lyn
Last edited:
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Another oasis gone from the heart of the city. I still haven't got my head round HS2 - someone, somewhere is making a lot of money and hundreds if not thousands of people both dead and alive are being displaced.
Thought I'd work through the earlier history of the burial ground from press reports. Here's a summary of what I found. It seems to have gone through a fairly controversial history, particularly concerning who controlled the funding for the ground and the purpose of the fund's use. And it all started out because a railway company wanted some of St Martin's land !
June 1848
£2000 received from London & NW Railway Co as compensation for the loss of part of St Martin's ground for a railway 'deviation' line. The money was to be placed in trust or similar for Birmingham inhabitants for the later purchase of a burial ground
July 1863
A notice was issued that the burial ground was closed except for burials in vaults or brick graves
November 1870
Park Street was showing neglect. Debate about who and how the Park Street fund was to be used. Restoration costs were estimated at £800
May 1871
Park Street had become neglected, especially the section near Freeman Street. Reports in the press of decaying gates and fences, brick walls with gaps in places. The section near St Bartholomew's had less tombstones.
January 1880
Under the Birmingham Closed Burial Grounds Act of 1878, Park Street and St Bartholomew's churchyard came into the hands of the Corporation. The grounds were converted into recreation grounds with nicely laid out gardens. St Bartholomew's had 12,000 sq yards and Park Street covered 14,400 sq yards
May 1959
Under the Birmingham Corporation Act of 1954 all remains of Park Street burials were to be removed
It seems from recent developments, however, that not all remains were removed in the 1950s.
Viv.
June 1848
£2000 received from London & NW Railway Co as compensation for the loss of part of St Martin's ground for a railway 'deviation' line. The money was to be placed in trust or similar for Birmingham inhabitants for the later purchase of a burial ground
July 1863
A notice was issued that the burial ground was closed except for burials in vaults or brick graves
November 1870
Park Street was showing neglect. Debate about who and how the Park Street fund was to be used. Restoration costs were estimated at £800
May 1871
Park Street had become neglected, especially the section near Freeman Street. Reports in the press of decaying gates and fences, brick walls with gaps in places. The section near St Bartholomew's had less tombstones.
January 1880
Under the Birmingham Closed Burial Grounds Act of 1878, Park Street and St Bartholomew's churchyard came into the hands of the Corporation. The grounds were converted into recreation grounds with nicely laid out gardens. St Bartholomew's had 12,000 sq yards and Park Street covered 14,400 sq yards
May 1959
Under the Birmingham Corporation Act of 1954 all remains of Park Street burials were to be removed
It seems from recent developments, however, that not all remains were removed in the 1950s.
Viv.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
PARK STREET BURIAL GROUND EVALUATION, and Handsacre info...
Burial Information Count – 13 articulated skeletons removed 8 adults & 5 juveniles (of which 3 are infants)
Density – initial results from 2 trenches (Tr. 4 & 6) is 0.72/m2, although high levels of variation already present
Depth – highest grave cut at c. 1.1m BGL (Trench 6) lowest grave cut at c. 3.9m BGL (Trench 6)
Pre-cemetery archaeology identified Potential medieval ditches in Trench 4 Two large, undated pits in Trench 3
https://assets.publishing.service.g...79414/DJV_HSG_Presentation_-_Dec_2017_web.pdf
Burial Information Count – 13 articulated skeletons removed 8 adults & 5 juveniles (of which 3 are infants)
Density – initial results from 2 trenches (Tr. 4 & 6) is 0.72/m2, although high levels of variation already present
Depth – highest grave cut at c. 1.1m BGL (Trench 6) lowest grave cut at c. 3.9m BGL (Trench 6)
Pre-cemetery archaeology identified Potential medieval ditches in Trench 4 Two large, undated pits in Trench 3
https://assets.publishing.service.g...79414/DJV_HSG_Presentation_-_Dec_2017_web.pdf
thanks ell...looks like some pretty old remains have been removed...would have gone up for a look but we would not get near...what i am waiting for is when they start digging up the car park between where the fox and grapes was and moor st station hopefully we will be able to watch and get some piccies...as already mentioned there maybe a viewing platform...fingers crossed
lyn
lyn
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
A bit of info that may be of interest, as 1151 bodies were removed in 1894...
1807 opened as extra ground for St Martins
1846 portion bought by LNWR
1857 closed to ordinary burials
1873 no further graves opened
1879 Laid out as a park
1892 further portion sold to LNWR
1894 1151 coffins removed to Witton
Dr R.J. Hetherington in the 1950s
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
The info provided by Dr. Hetherington in the 1950s shows that a portion of the ground was sold to LNWR in 1846.
Meetings recorded in Aris’s Gazette of 1848 show that the Parish received £2,000, and that there was concern as to who would receive the money. The Rev JC Miller clarified the situation, but also commented...
“At a meeting last Monday there were questions of how the Rail Company had removed the bodies....in unfavourable terms....but had behaved in an honourable way.” (May 1848)
So ironically it seems that bodies had been removed around 1847 by a Rail Company!
[edit.....the bodies seem to be from the main burial ground, and not the extension in Park Street]
Last edited:
