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Looking for George Baker in Warstone Cemetery

sheronb

sheronb

master brummie
I am looking for the tomb/grave of George Baker, born 1815, died feb 1895, he is buried at Warstone, he was a wire manufactuer, and had factories in Cecil St, then chester st Aston, he also lived at The Grove, Grove Lane, Handsworth, which was sold to Handsworth council in the 1880s, and became part of the park.Do I need to contact Warstone, if so how, and do they charge?? any info on the family would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
 
Regretably, the Friends of key Hill (& Warstone Lane) do not yet have computerised records of who's who in Warstone, only Key Hill.
Mary in the Tourist Info in the Jewellery Quarter has a disc with Key hill on and can look up grave numbers for names, but I do not think she has Warstone either. I know the registers were photographed some years ago by the Midland Genealogical society, but I believe only Key Hill was computerised
The records for both are kept at Handsworth Cemetery, Oxhill Road B21 8JT 0121-554-0096. However, there is only 1 member of staff out of 3 on duty (Rose), and she is currently drowning in workload. The other 2 Martin (Chief) & the other lady (who name is on the tip of my tongue) are still off sick, following the raid some weeks ago when they were held at gunpoint, tied up & gagged - along with a gravedigger. They were bundled into a van, their JCB was stolen, and used to ramraid a local bank. The staff were bundeled out of the van into the middle of the road, still tied and gagged. - Not an normal day in the office.

It is hoped they will resume normal service soon, and will respond to enquires, but please be patient at present.

Brian
 
Brian I am stunned by your post when did this terrible event happen? I am so sorry to hear this and hope the people involved are alright.
 
Key Hill Brian said:
Regretably, the Friends of key Hill (& Warstone Lane) do not yet have computerised records of who's who in Warstone, only Key Hill.
Mary in the Tourist Info in the Jewellery Quarter has a disc with Key hill on and can look up grave numbers for names, but I do not think she has Warstone either. I know the registers were photographed some years ago by the Midland Genealogical society, but I believe only Key Hill was computerised
The records for both are kept at Handsworth Cemetery, Oxhill Road B21 8JT 0121-554-0096. However, there is only 1 member of staff out of 3 on duty (Rose), and she is currently drowning in workload. The other 2 Martin (Chief) & the other lady (who name is on the tip of my tongue) are still off sick, following the raid some weeks ago when they were held at gunpoint, tied up & gagged - along with a gravedigger. They were bundled into a van, their JCB was stolen, and used to ramraid a local bank. The staff were bundeled out of the van into the middle of the road, still tied and gagged. - Not an normal day in the office.

It is hoped they will resume normal service soon, and will respond to enquires, but please be patient at present.

Brian
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How terrible, t hope they make a full recovery from their ordeal! Thank you for letting me know!
 
I have got your information, but until I go back to Handsworth later this week, it means nothing to me - I have not come across this grave number before. George Baker was buried on 14 February 1895. He lived at 79 Trinity Road, Handsworth, burial number is 48923, and the grave is CV - I. Now I know the Key Hill grave numbers inside out, and thought I knew Warstone ones, but this one leaves me blank. I suspect it is a catacomb, but until I come back to you, don't take it for granted. Shortie
 
Shortie! Thank you very much!! It's very kind of you!! I should think wife Mary ann will be there too, she died a couple of days after him, again, many thanks.
 
You are welcome. I shall have a better explanation of where it is later in the week. I do have a catacomb plan that has only fairly recently surfaced, but finding it might be another matter.
 
Hello SheronB.

I still have no further information, the staff at Handsworth do not know what CV - I is. They thought the same as me and that is was probably a catacomb. I did not notice that you had added his wife had died a couple of days later, next time I go I will check her, and see if the information is the same. V probably stands for vault, and C possible catacomb. We do not have a catacomb plan for Warstone, and neither do Archives. the Cemetery was laid out and the buildings created by Harrison and Medland, but no plans are available, so we are not going to be able to find out for definite. I am sorry, however, having someone in the catacombs is quite nice, don't you think? Shortie
 
I have just come back from Warstone Lane - it's a shame I didn't spot it before or I could have checked if there are any numbers on the catacombs. As it was a fine day, I thought I would photograph the public graves in sections I and K to match the ones that I did for section J.
The public grave numbers in section I are above and to the left of the cattacombs (as you stand with your back to the dual carriageway). The numbers take the form V ?? - I, where ?? is a number. If I was a betting person (and I'm not!) I would guess that if it really is in the cattacomb it will be on the I section side (i.e. the left hand side as you look at the catacombs). Would you like me to pop back there later today or tomorrow to have a look?
 
catacombs1_50pc.jpg

I have popped back there this afternoon - couldn't resist the pull of the spring sunshine and a challenge!

It's all very interesting. There are two levels to the catacoombs.

The lower layer don't have numbers over the arches. But the graves at the lower area that have numbers are in section K. My assumption therefore would be that those vaults are all attached to section K. There are three vaults at the bottom that have names Cutler, Patrick and Guest, so these may help sort the numbering out for the bottom section I took some photos of the catacoombs and will attach to a Warstone Lane thread. Attaching one here for reference

The upper layer is simpler because there are numbers over the arches.
To the left of the largest arch (that is adjoining section I), the arches are numbered as follows: 'blank', 1,2, .....9 (I must admit that I had expected them to be numbered in Roman numerals)

To the right of the largest arch (adjoining section J, the numbers are missing - until the last two, which are numbered 10 and 11. Working backwards towards the largest arch (there are 11 small arches), the following vaults have names:
Medlicott (plaque above vault 1)
2 Lucas
3 Harrison
4 Harrison (Above this vault there is a plaque to Adams
Again, it would be worth checking the grave numbers for these to see if they include J in their number. I guess that it would mean noting the dates on the plaque (silly me didn't!), finding a burial number in the library and then Handsworth - or is there a quicker way Wendy?

​
 
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leslam said:
I have popped back there this afternoon - couldn't resist the pull of the spring sunshine and a challenge!

It's all very interesting. There are two levels to the catacoombs.

The lower layer don't have numbers over the arches. But the graves at the lower area that have numbers are in section K. My assumption therefore would be that those vaults are all attached to section K. There are three vaults at the bottom that have names Cutler, Patrick and Guest, so these may help sort the numbering out for the bottom section I took some photos of the catacoombs and will attach to a Warstone Lane thread. Attaching one here for reference

The upper layer is simpler because there are numbers over the arches.
To the left of the largest arch (that is adjoining section I), the arches are numbered as follows: 'blank', 1,2, .....9 (I must admit that I had expected them to be numbered in Roman numerals)

To the right of the largest arch (adjoining section J, the numbers are missing - until the last two, which are numbered 10 and 11. Working backwards towards the largest arch (there are 11 small arches), the following vaults have names:
Medlicott (plaque above vault 1)
2 Lucas
3 Harrison
4 Harrison (Above this vault there is a plaque to Adams
Again, it would be worth checking the grave numbers for these to see if they include J in their number. I guess that it would mean noting the dates on the plaque (silly me didn't!), finding a burial number in the library and then Handsworth - or is there a quicker way Wendy?

​
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Leslam

Thank you very much for taking so much trouble, I am very grateful!! Shall read your notes over to take it all in! I went to the catacombs last year, thought they were very interesting!
 
leslam said:
I have popped back there this afternoon - couldn't resist the pull of the spring sunshine and a challenge!

It's all very interesting. There are two levels to the catacoombs.

The lower layer don't have numbers over the arches. But the graves at the lower area that have numbers are in section K. My assumption therefore would be that those vaults are all attached to section K. There are three vaults at the bottom that have names Cutler, Patrick and Guest, so these may help sort the numbering out for the bottom section I took some photos of the catacoombs and will attach to a Warstone Lane thread. Attaching one here for reference

The upper layer is simpler because there are numbers over the arches.
To the left of the largest arch (that is adjoining section I), the arches are numbered as follows: 'blank', 1,2, .....9 (I must admit that I had expected them to be numbered in Roman numerals)

To the right of the largest arch (adjoining section J, the numbers are missing - until the last two, which are numbered 10 and 11. Working backwards towards the largest arch (there are 11 small arches), the following vaults have names:
Medlicott (plaque above vault 1)
2 Lucas
3 Harrison
4 Harrison (Above this vault there is a plaque to Adams
Again, it would be worth checking the grave numbers for these to see if they include J in their number. I guess that it would mean noting the dates on the plaque (silly me didn't!), finding a burial number in the library and then Handsworth - or is there a quicker way Wendy?

​
Click to expand...

If they were buried in the catacombs, there should be a plaque? George Baker was quiet a guy, he got a substantial obituary in newspaper.
 
Sorry, the above are the only plaques that are visible, but that doesn't mean that there isn't one. It's quite possible that there are inscriptions behind the panels in the arches. It's possible that they were covered over in the 50s when considerable numbers of slab memorials were also buried to help with maintenance. It's worth sending an email to Handsworth and asking if they have a list of inscriptions for the catacombs. They found an inscription that's on my 'buried' slab, when I thought that I would never know what it said.
 
That's interesting Leslam. I knew they had some for Key Hill Cemetery that's how I knew about my buried slab but I didn't know there were some for Warstone Lane.
 
This answer was sent from Shortie who is having trouble accessing the forum at the moment.

I gave the grave No as CV-I. Joy at Handsworth, she does not know what it means, but I have Warstone plans here, and looking at the catacombs, the one part is nearest to Section I. I suspect (and that's all I can offer, as nobody seems to know the full truth), is that CV stands for corridor vault (I don't know if you realise there are corridors behind those blocked in doors), and the I - well, possibly because it is nearest Section I. That's the best I can throw up at the moment.
 
Wendy said:
This answer was sent from Shortie who is having trouble accessing the forum at the moment.

I gave the grave No as CV-I. Joy at Handsworth, she does not know what it means, but I have Warstone plans here, and looking at the catacombs, the one part is nearest to Section I. I suspect (and that's all I can offer, as nobody seems to know the full truth), is that CV stands for corridor vault (I don't know if you realise there are corridors behind those blocked in doors), and the I - well, possibly because it is nearest Section I. That's the best I can throw up at the moment.
Click to expand...

Thank you for all your replys. What a pity it has all been blocked up.
 
Yes it is sad but can you imagine trying to keep the place secure from the 'lo life'. I also think like Key Hill there is a safety issue!
 
Hi all. This is so exciting for me. George Baker is my great-grandfather and I live in New Zealand and I'm so chuffed to see other people looking for him as well. I'd love to find out about his parents - I know they died when he was only 7 and he was 'left to shift for himself' apparently so he must have been an amazing person. My grandfather, Walter Baker, born in Yardley, is the son of his second marriage, apparently to a Mary Kimberley? who died 3 days after GGP George died. Does anyone have any info that goes back any further? I have heard from a Sarah Baker who is also a relative of his - Sarah lives in London - Hi Sarah, if you see this. I'd just lOVE to find out more info.
 
It's early morning here, so give me a few hours and I'll see what I can turn up; revisit the page later this evening or tomorrow (your time). I understand Warstone Lane much better than I did in 2010, having spent quite a lot of time researching various families that are interred. I'll also try to replace the pictures that were lost.

Update: I've replaced the picture in post#13 above.
 
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There is an entry for George Baker living in Abingdon House, Trinity Road, Birchfields, Staffordhire but I think it is the right one. Died 9th February 1895 as is listed as a wire manufacturer. Probate granted to Frederick and Walter Athol Baker effects £4890 17s and 9d.

Janice
 
Here are a couple of additional bits of information on the burial in Warstone Lane.
This is the burial entry in the database held by the Jewellery Quarter Research Trust. (Click on the image to enlarge it). There is nothing in the monumental inscription database

JQRT-GeorgeBaker-1895-entry.jpg

Translated, this means it's in Vault 2 in the catacombs, which is in section I.

This image indicates where Vault 2 is situated.

catacomb_first_level_below_i_section_annotated_75pc.jpg
 
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