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Witton Cemetery-Cleaning the family grave

jennyann

jennyann

Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Here are a couple of Before and After photos of the Venville family grave at Witton Cemetery. My brother Bill and I undertook the task about four years ago. We arrived looking like the Bucket Brigade, loaded down with scrubbing tools and buckets. It took several hours to remove the grime, etc. The lettering is some kind of lead wire and in parts is in danger of falling out. It was well worth the effort.
 
I think its the Ridgeway side Jean and a great job done jennyann:)
 
Youre right fellows. You come in the Ridgeway Gate walk about one hundred yards to Main Avenue...three or four yards to the left and it's approx three rows back. Here is photo of the Main Avenue and it's to the left
of the Anglican Chapel close to the road that leads to the Ridgeway Gate.. There was another Chapel close by which was demolished.
 
Hi Alf: Let's see- First listed is William Henry beloved husband of Evangeline
Venville, who fell asleep December 27, 1933 aged 72 years. Their son William Venville is remembered on this stone even though his formal soldiers' grave is in a French War Cemetery. William, aged 22, was killed by a snipers bullet in WW1 coming "over the top" in France on September 8, 1915. Finally, my Grandmother Evangeline Venville who died on November 30, 1945. She was 75. The gravestone was erected in 1933 and my Grandma's name added later on. One inscription on the front bar says "Peace Perfect Peace".

I mentioned the other chapel being close by since I used play in cemetery
with my friend who lived in Yerbury Grove off the Ridgeway. We would go in
the Ridgeway Gate. One day we were just walking by and looking at the graves and I noticed the Venville grave. When my brother Bill and I went back many years later I didn't realize the chapel had been demolished and led him all over the place near the Anglican Chapel (still standing, of course) looking for the grave. When we finally went to the Cemetery Office to seek directions we found out that I hadn't dreamt seeing the grave it's just that the Chapel closest to the grave had been demolished. :):(
 
Thanks Alf and another one to say job well done Jenny Anne. My mom and dad are about the same distance up but on the right looking towards the church next to aunt Nell and uncle Harry. Bye. Jean.
 
Thanks Jennyann, play in there my mates and I were always doing that and at night.
I have a photo's of the other church as they started to pull it down will sort it out.
 
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I helped Wendy clean a few Graves at Key Hill. It's so satisfying watching names come back to life. It's amazing what a drop of plain water and a soft brush will do.
 
Jennyann if more families did this it would make our cemeteries much nicer. You made an excellent job. I have just found out that one of my family graves at Key Hill was buried including the headstone I have asked for permission for the 'friends' group to see if they can locate it.

Another tip is if you find a family grave and can prove a connection. It's a good idea to let the cemetery know who you are and leave an address or phone number. This only applies to cemeteries and not graveyards.
 
Thanks for the photo of the chapel that was demolished. I believe it was considered unsafe. Was that the Catholic chapel do you know Alf?
There were often people in the cemetery at night. How do I know?
My brother had a friend who lived in Moor Lane and Bill and I used to
walk him home on dark nights since he was afraid walking by the long cemetery wall. He was about 10 at the time. We would hear whoops
and squeals sometimes:rolleyes:

Rod, we certainly did have to be careful cleaning the grave especially the
inscription end with the names on. We found several graves from this era that used the lead lettering and, of course, over the years it has dried out somewhat.

Jean, You know exactly where this grave is and your family being so close.
My Mother's parents are at Witton Cemetery. Mom never had a gravestone installed so as was the custom at Witton Cemetery and may be other cemeteries in Brum run by the Council, they surrounded graves without headstones with small blue bricks. Mom was an only child and ditched her relatives for some reason except one cousin. It's hard to find the blue bricks in the long grass. My Mother's Aunt is also at Witton and for both graves we had to ask the office staff where the locations were. They were most helpful.
 
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