Searching for plot - Handsworth Cemetery

[Laurajadeb]

Hello, I have been searching for the grave of my great grandmother today at Handsworth cemetery based on the burial information I have but no luck. I have found a map of the cemetery plots from another post in this forum but I can’t seem to confirm which area her grave could be in.

My great grandmother is Susan Mabel Holt and she died in 1943, I’ve attached the burial info. I tried looking for plots of the same year but no luck. I don’t fully understand what the square and class means on the burial information or what the ‘a’ means under the ‘consecrated’ column means.

Any help or insights would be much appreciated!

 

[pjmburns]

Doesn't 3 refer to area 3 on the map?
It was a reopened grave. So looks as if another family member is buried there.

I would ring the office and ask what the entry means

Handsworth cemetery | Birmingham City Council

Cemeteries and crematorium in Birmingham

www.birmingham.gov.uk

 

[Laurajadeb]

Thanks @pjmburns, I’ll check in with them tomorow, do you mean that the ‘a’ refers to the grave being reopened?

 

[pjmburns]

No it says "reop" in one of the columns.
Also, there may not be a gravestone so check the numbers on any stones in the area. The grave number is usually on the back of upright stones. You may then need to work out which way the numbers go and possibly "count spaces".
Let us know how you get on please.

 

[Laurajadeb]

Thank you so much, this is super helpful, will check in with the cemetery this week and go back again! I’ll share any updates I find

 

[pjmburns]

If you are able to go in the week you might find workmen who will help. When I went (several years ago) they were trimming the grass and helped me look.

 

[Pete Elliott]

Hi I’ve just spotted this post and decided to poke my nose in and add my “ twopeneth” , I see from the map that the plot is in section 3 and the grave was reopened, I had also searched for a grave here at Handsworth and found it to be in section 4 , it wasn’t until I contacted the bereavement office at Birmingham council that I found the actual location and in fact that my grandparents grave was next to my uncles which is the one I searched for originally, without speaking to someone I couldn’t find the plot as all markers had long disappeared and the grave numbers don’t run inline anyway , so try Adrian or Gail at bereavement office, good luck

 

[Laurajadeb]

Thanks for sharing this @Pete Elliott! I gave the bereavement office a call on Monday and they were able to confirm section 3 for me. To share
were also able to share some information about the reopening of the grave for me if you’re interested. My great grandmother is buried there (Susan Holt - 1943) with her grandmother (Louisa Love - 1928) and Louisa’s second husband (Henry Williams - 1918)

This has now uncovered 5 generations for me and information on my x3 great grandmother’s second husband! Thanks so much for your tips on calling up. I will be heading back to the cemetery this week to hopefully find the plot, will share anything if I do

 

[pjmburns]

Thanks for the update that is good news. What a find. Fingers crossed you locate the grave.

 

[Pete Elliott]

Thanks for sharing this @Pete Elliott! I gave the bereavement office a call on Monday and they were able to confirm section 3 for me. To share
were also able to share some information about the reopening of the grave for me if you’re interested. My great grandmother is buried there (Susan Holt - 1943) with her grandmother (Louisa Love - 1928) and Louisa’s second husband (Henry Williams - 1918)

This has now uncovered 5 generations for me and information on my x3 great grandmother’s second husband! Thanks so much for your tips on calling up. I will be heading back to the cemetery this week to hopefully find the plot, will share anything if I do

Hi, glad you’ve had a result from the bereavement office, it can get quite addictive following leads from family plots, if you still struggle to find the actual location ask Gail at the office she sent me a lined drawing of the plot and surrounding grave numbers,so at least you have a starting point, good luck keep at

 

[Laurajadeb]

Thank you Pete that’s really helpful!

 

[Pete Elliott]

You’re welcome Laura,I know how disheartening it is to wander back and forward looking at gravestones trying to decipher numbers covered in mud and holly trees growing up through the centre of a heartfelt poem maybe to a long passed child

 

[Laurajadeb]

yes

You’re welcome Laura,I know how disheartening it is to wander back and forward looking at gravestones trying to decipher numbers covered in mud and holly trees growing up through the centre of a heartfelt poem maybe to a long passed child

Yes it’s a very emotional experience!

 

[Pete Elliott]

Hi Laurajadeb, this is the photo of my uncle’s plot with small name peg , so you know what to look for on your search good luck

 

[Laurajadeb]

Hey @Pete Elliott this is super helpful thank you!

 

[Laurajadeb]

Just an update if you’re interested, they put the peg in the plot the other day and I went today to pay my respects

 

[Pete Elliott]

That’s great news, I hope the plot wasn’t too overgrown and emotional after your search, was it in an area that you had already looked in

Pete

 

[Laurajadeb]

Sadly there was nothing there, I assume maybe there was never anything there but I could see by the polts to the left and right, that these ones had sunk in and had no headstones either. It wasn’t too far off where we first thought the plot was. My family are planning to make a small metal headstone as I am now the only person from the family line living in Birmingham and can go to the grave but it’s been amazing to finally find the plot and honor my late family members and appreciate all the help I have had from this forum on my searches

 

[Pete Elliott]

I’m sure that once the sun comes out and the leaves are clear the plot will look a lot much better, I know my uncle’s grave was covered in leaves and the stone vase structure was tilted on its side and turned sideways, obviously to face my grandparents grave which I didn’t know was there until speaking to the bereavement office, so both graves are work in progress to tidy it, I’m sure your late family would be very proud that you looked for their resting place , well done

Pete

 

[Laurajadeb]

Hi all, just an update, finally got a metal headstone made as there was no headstone, thanks again for all your help finding this plot and my family history!