W
Wendy
Guest
Several names for different types of grave were used in the nineteenth century, some of which overlapped or were interchangeable.
COMMON GRAVE
The general term for a grave belonging to the owners of the cemetery, in which
no private burial rights existed. Common graves were filled over the course
of a few days with the bodies of unrelated people who died during that period
and who could afford nothing better. No headstone was erected, so the occupants
were uncommemorated. (See the LOCK-UP GRAVE and PUBLIC GRAVE
sections below.)
The general term for a grave belonging to the owners of the cemetery, in which
no private burial rights existed. Common graves were filled over the course
of a few days with the bodies of unrelated people who died during that period
and who could afford nothing better. No headstone was erected, so the occupants
were uncommemorated. (See the LOCK-UP GRAVE and PUBLIC GRAVE
sections below.)
'PAUPER'S GRAVE'
A pauper was a penniless person buried by the Board of Guardians (i.e., at
public expense). Any common grave would probably contain some paupers as well
as some people whose families had managed to pay for the burial, so there
is really no such thing as a 'pauper's grave', and the term is never used
officially.
LOCK-UP GRAVE
A pauper was a penniless person buried by the Board of Guardians (i.e., at
public expense). Any common grave would probably contain some paupers as well
as some people whose families had managed to pay for the burial, so there
is really no such thing as a 'pauper's grave', and the term is never used
officially.
LOCK-UP GRAVE
(probably the same thing as 'OPEN GRAVE') The cheapest category of
common grave; there were three prices, for stillborn babies, for children
under 7 years of age, and for persons over 7. It appears that these graves
were not completely filled in after each burial. Instead, a wooden 'door'
was locked in place on to some kind of framework around the grave. When the
grave was full the contraption was removed so that the grave looked like any
other. The last mention of 'lock-up' graves in the cemetery minutes is in
1891. During the nineteenth century 5s was paid to bury a person over 7 years
old in a lock-up grave. A 1921 price list quotes this for what it calls simply
'common graves'.
common grave; there were three prices, for stillborn babies, for children
under 7 years of age, and for persons over 7. It appears that these graves
were not completely filled in after each burial. Instead, a wooden 'door'
was locked in place on to some kind of framework around the grave. When the
grave was full the contraption was removed so that the grave looked like any
other. The last mention of 'lock-up' graves in the cemetery minutes is in
1891. During the nineteenth century 5s was paid to bury a person over 7 years
old in a lock-up grave. A 1921 price list quotes this for what it calls simply
'common graves'.
PUBLIC GRAVE
Another type of common grave. The grave was filled up completely after each
interment, so that the deepest burial involved most work and cost the largest
amount (14s during the nineteenth century). This type was still known as a
'public grave' in 1921.
interment, so that the deepest burial involved most work and cost the largest
amount (14s during the nineteenth century). This type was still known as a
'public grave' in 1921.
INSCRIPTION GRAVE
The third type of common grave, this differed from the other two by having
a headstone, and seems to have been a local invention, avoiding the 'shame'
of an uncommemorated burial. Each stone served two graves (one to the east,
one to the west of it), and the inscription gave the names, ages and dates
of death of the unrelated dead in the graves. There were also kerbs round
the grave. We do not know whether the method of burial was that of the 'lock-up'
or of the 'public' grave, but the simple pricing suggests the former. The
inscription grave originally cost £1 1s for adults, half-price for children,
so that it soon acquired the unofficial nickname 'guinea grave'. In
1921 a 'guinea grave' cost £2.
PRIVATE GRAVE
a headstone, and seems to have been a local invention, avoiding the 'shame'
of an uncommemorated burial. Each stone served two graves (one to the east,
one to the west of it), and the inscription gave the names, ages and dates
of death of the unrelated dead in the graves. There were also kerbs round
the grave. We do not know whether the method of burial was that of the 'lock-up'
or of the 'public' grave, but the simple pricing suggests the former. The
inscription grave originally cost £1 1s for adults, half-price for children,
so that it soon acquired the unofficial nickname 'guinea grave'. In
1921 a 'guinea grave' cost £2.
PRIVATE GRAVE
A
plot of ground purchased by an person who then had the burial rights to the
grave dug in it, confirmed by a parchment certificate or 'grave paper', a
duplicate of which was kept by the Burial Grounds Committee. Separate fees
would be paid for the plot, for the making of the grave (sometimes as a brick-lined
vault), for each burial in it, and for the right to erect a headstone or other
monument. Apparently there was no time limit on the right of the owner or
his family to the grave; they could expect to lie there for all time. Some
graves were well cared for, usually by the relatives of those buried in them.
Other families paid a sum of £10 or so to ensure that the cemetery authority
would tend the grave for evermore; this was called a 'perpetuity', but these
agreements are now sadly no longer honoured.
plot of ground purchased by an person who then had the burial rights to the
grave dug in it, confirmed by a parchment certificate or 'grave paper', a
duplicate of which was kept by the Burial Grounds Committee. Separate fees
would be paid for the plot, for the making of the grave (sometimes as a brick-lined
vault), for each burial in it, and for the right to erect a headstone or other
monument. Apparently there was no time limit on the right of the owner or
his family to the grave; they could expect to lie there for all time. Some
graves were well cared for, usually by the relatives of those buried in them.
Other families paid a sum of £10 or so to ensure that the cemetery authority
would tend the grave for evermore; this was called a 'perpetuity', but these
agreements are now sadly no longer honoured.
