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Witton Cemetery

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tanya
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Tanya

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Good afternoon everyone

I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to help me out with a query I have about my grandfather's grave at Witton Cemetery.

I have found out that the plot where he is buried was bought and paid for by his wife and that it was a plot for 3 people - but no-one else is buried there (I think great-gran might be at the Crematorium instead). Was it usual to buy a plot for 3 people at that time? It just seems a bit of an odd number :confused:

Also, I have a Grant Number for g-grandad's grave but have no idea what this is for or what to do with it. Can I use it to write off somewhere for information on the plot? (I haven't looked into burials before so it's all a bit new to me).

Thanks everyone and hope someone can help me out and point me in the right direction :)
 
The grave would be a puchased one and most family graves were for three people, I think it was something to do with the depth. If the grave was not used after the first burial I believe as you have the grant you can still use it for burial.
It would be a good idea as jennyann says to contact Witton cemetery give them all the information you have, names, dates purchaser and any info on the grant. Good Luck.
 
Not unusual

Hello Tanya:)...Not unusual for there to be three buried in the same grave........................Cat:)
 
Just a note ...I remembered that a few years ago we asked the staff at Witton Cemetery about the cost of opening a grave to add an extra burial.
I remembered being discouraged because the cost is rather high for reopening a grave.
 
there are rules and regulations about ownership of graves, depending on when the plot was purchased. this you would have to check out, some plots are classed as Inperpetu-um (forever) and others revert back to council after a certain period.
I was told this when making enquiries about a family grave at Handsworth cemetery, if it is classed as Inperpetu-um the next of kin takes over as the owner.
 
I've one purchased by my Grandmother three and she and Grandfather are buried there in Witton.:)
 
re graves

I dug them for 2,for thee was very deap, the cofins are quit.e high when on top of each other,now the hole is dug and bricked up,and a lid of stone paced then bricked up again waiting for next poor sole,to stop contamination and stink.and ground polution.to exume some one and make the grave deeper would cost a bomb,to put 2in there,that is if you get permision to do so,The very small graves upset me you know.what i meen
god bless them,and there families. pete:cry:
 
I have a family grave at Key Hill cemetery which contains 10 people, the grave is also brick lined. The first burial was in 1867 the last in 1918. It actually states on the burial register at what depth the person should be buried. There is also a Thomas Smith from Ickneild Street buried in the grave for which I can find no connection to my family. Perhaps they felt sorry for him........who knows!
 
If you get to visit the office at Witton Cemetery I have found them most helpful; if you provide a fairly accurate date of death and the name they will give you a location.
 
Wow - Thank you everyone for your super replies. I sat and read through them all and they are fascinating and extremely helpful. I never knew about the graves being brick up with a lid of stone and it's very interesting to hear about that and also how many people can be buried in one grave. Plus the info on plots that are Inperpetu-um - I think I still have quite a lot to learn for the family tree :)

I rang Witton Cemetery today and they explained the Grant Number to me and that copies of the deeds weren't kept so I won't be able to go any further with the Grant Number. They have been kind enough to tell me where in Witton my g-grandfather is buried so I am really looking forward to taking a trip over there to take a look (might see if I can persuade hubby to drive me there this weekend :)).

They also said it would cost £18 if I wanted to investigate further but I will wait a while before doing that and see what else I can find along the way. I also gave the Crematorium at Walsall Rd a call and they are kindly looking to see if g-gran was cremated there.

Thank you once again everyone for all your help - it's much appreciated and very helpful.
 
I am so pleased you have got the information Tanya. Is there a headstone on the grave they sometimes hold wonderful information. Have you got the death certificate as this will give you an address and often the informant was a family member. Don't froget to bring your camera when you vist.
 
Tanya the people at Witton are well known for the help they give, 5 of my family are buried there Mom & Dad in the 1980s, I made a couple of inquiries when I started my Family History and couldn't praise them enough so all I can wish you now is every success in the future Good Luck:)
 
Tanya,

Pleased you are making progress. Witton is a large and well kept cemetery but not all graves have headstones; Most likely that won't be the case but have it at the back of your mind so you won't be too disappointed......
Good luck

Steve
 
Here is a map of Witton cemetery to give you an idea of size. As Steve has said prepare yourself as there maybe no headstone. Also some areas have been built up with tons of soil for new burials, so it does happen sometimes that another grave can be on top. This can be a bit of a shock if you don't know. Good luck:)
 
I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but I was talking to a friend of mine in Erdington by phone the other day about Witton Cemetery. She is getting up in age and is unable to bend down to tend her Mother's grave anymore. Also, she didn't feel safe anymore going there alone since there have been purse snatchings of late. All this worried her a great deal since she and her Mother were very close. My friend is now receiving the services of a group of people who for a small fee will tend the graves you usually visit.
I think they are called Friends of Witton Cemetery, someone else may know about them. My friend is very happy about this service because she and her husband can drive to to her Mom's grave and see that it is cared for.
 
jennyann I do know of 'the Friends of Witton Cemetery' but I didn't know they offered this service what a brilliant idea. It keeps the cemetery looking good and helps people.........they should be applauded for such an excellent idea.
 
Jewish Cemetery At Witton

Does Anyone Know If There Are Any Lists Available Of Burials In The Jewish Cemetary At Witton? I Am Tracing Ancestry On My Fathers Side And Any Information Would Be Gratefully Received.
 
There is a book in the office, I was allowed to look through it when looking for the death of a friends relative. The staff were very helpful.
 
Witton Cem;

Yes Momma P, Is Correct It Was Quite Common Years Ago For People
To Purchase Family Plots For There Family.s
My Grand Parents Purchased A Plot For Three People In The Early Thirties
For My Mother When Her First Child Was Born, And Died At The Age Of Two
Her Parents Was Ernest , And Bertha Victoria Jelf [Nee Hinton ] They
Was Weaithy People , And Now My Mother , And Father Are All Burried
In The Same Grave At Handsworth Cemetry ,
I,m Not Sure Now If They Still Do It ,Or How Much They Cost
If Anybody As Any Idea I Would Like To Hear From Them
I Do Know That There Was Another Jelf,s Grand Child ,Which Is Listed In The Libary [ Central ] Which States He Was Burried In Key Hill Cem;;
And Listed As A Paupers Grave , Why I Do Not Know As To WHY,
I Went To Handsworth Cem' They Gave Me A Map But I Could Not Find This Plot , I Think They Have Removed Them All Now
Best Wishes To You All And Keep The Good Work Up Every body
ASTONIAN ,;;;
 
Thank you so much for the extra advice and information about Witton Cemetery everyone.

The map you posted is super Moma P :) - g-grandad was in section 95 and it's great to get an idea of the layout and the whereabouts of his grave.

Thank you for your advice too Steve. Yes, I would have gone over there expecting to find a headstone for Franklin so I really appreciate you mentioning it before I went over there. If I don't find anything I won't be as disappointed now that I know :)

I've not heard of the Friends of Witton Cemetery, JennyAnn - I agree with Moma P that they should be applauded for such a wonderful and thoughtful idea.

It's really interesting to read about your grandparents and parents plot, Astonian. I do hope that you are successful in finding information on your fathers line in the Jewish section of the cemetery. The staff at Witton sound very helpful, Mike-G.

I did wonder if our Franklin might be in the Jewish burials as I was told by a rellie that when he was buried, his family came up from Kent and they were wearing skull caps :confused2: I haven't been able to find any Jewish connection but she was adamant about it.

Thanks again for helping me out :)
 
A tad of History, Witton Cemetery was either bigger and made smaller or what i am about to tell you was a builders mistake and or a mistake on the plans or maybe a change of mind. From the top of The Ridgeway there is or was a row of bricks all in uniform order running from the bus stop on the opposite side to the cemetery i have always wondered what they could possibly be for the only conclusion that i can come to is that these i would imagine where the start of the wall which would mean that there would have been no road. (wonder if they are still there),..... Will some one go and have a look please:D only joking... but non-the -less a tad of history...Cat
 
Somebody on this said thread the cost of opening a grave is expensive,let me tell you Birmingham is one of highest in the country nothing surprises me about that council
 
Tanya

My family has a plot at Witton, purchased in 1969, with room for 4 burials, which seems to differ slightly with what others have said on this thread, but some have mentioned buying plots a lot earlier than the 1969, maybe things had changed by the 1960's.

With regards un marked paupers burials, I have so far come across 6/7 members of my family in unmarked paupers graves (the last unmarked grave was from a burial in 1926) that are in the ground that was built up with tons of earth. Which happened sometime in the 1930/40's, when up to 9ft of earth was placed over many area's, (so the ladies in the cemetery office told me). The ladies in the office also told me that the plots in the "new ground" are positioned fairly accurately over the unmarked graves, in the now substancially lower "older ground".

Quite a strange feeling (a shock the first time) to locate a plot, only to find that there has been new ground laid over it and even though the grave number is the same, there is a totally un related named headstone marking the plot. Finding the spot even if there was no marker with their name was as close as I was able to get, in these cases, but at least they had been found.

Stephen
 
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As far as I understand it a family plot can only be used if you have the actual deed for the grave, even if it isn't full. I am not sure about the ammount of people a grave was for, I suppose it would be difficult to make it too deep as it would collapse. The soil being put ontop of other burials is very common and only done when a gravestone is not present where public graves were located. Also for clarification the mass graves are public graves not paupers graves. These were large pits in which several people were buried sometimes a headstone was present but to add the name you had to pay. There was also a fee for burial in a public grave but no where near the cost of a private plot. I hope this has cleared up some queries.
 
Wendy

My father holds the deeds to the plot, passed onto him when his mother died. The plot was last used in 2002 when we buried his mother (my grandmother), it now contains both my grandparents.

Thanks for clarifying the position regarding the mass graves been public graves and that a fee would have been payable. The family members that I have located in such plots, may not have been as destitute as I first thought. I thought (wrongly it appears) that they were paupers graves, and people in such plots, were there because the families were unable to contribute anything towards the burials/plots.

Regards and Thanks

Stephen
 
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