Yardley Cemetery Plot Map

[pjmburns]

On my way back from taking the recycling to the tip (as per instructions during the bin strike ) I detoured to Yardley Crematorium/cemetery.

The lady in the office was friendly but... the office does not deal with any burial requests/info they only deal with cremations. The Burial Team deal with all enquiries. She didn't appear to know there had ever been another map to the one in post #6. She was unaware the sections had ever had letters.
So I assume if there is such a map (which there must be) the Burial team have the only access.

I have submitted an enquiry to the Team

 

[pjmburns]

Just had automated reply - so not expecting anything soon.

We will endeavour to reply to your email within Birmingham City Council guidelines of 10 to 15 working days

 

[pjmburns]

I've had a quick response. Basically phone and ask each time.

The lettered section was the old way of identifying grave locations in the cemetery – they were then converted to numbers. If you tell us the grave number we can identify which numbered section the grave is in.

 

[Keith R]

I've had a quick response. Basically phone and ask each time.

The lettered section was the old way of identifying grave locations in the cemetery – they were then converted to numbers. If you tell us the grave number we can identify which numbered section the grave is in.

I had this merry go around last year.Searched on their site and told me they were at Yardley so went to Brum library and found location.Got to Yardley and got a map....no letters so phoned and then they said it was a certain place which turned out to be a public area where they were scattered.A lot of effort and nothing to see...lol. Thing is where did they reference and change the letter to number ?

 

[Suzanneiom]

Hiiii can I confirm that section D corresponds with the number 60?

 

[Tuppenny Rice]

Hiiii can I confirm that section D corresponds with the number 60?

Reviving the thread following a visit to the office at the cemetery this week. The burials officers were very helpful in assisting me to find a grave from the 1890s. The lady explained to me that the letters on old grave deeds do NOT correspond one to one with the modern map numbers, unfortunately. They roughly correspond with how far from the path a grave is, with A a band around each area, nearest the paths.

I know from working at Tower Hamlets Cemetery that in the 19th century, the nearer the path, the higher the cost of a grave [people wanted the front row for status reasons and ease of access]. So the letters are a kind of 1st Class, 2nd Class etc.

This all fell apart at Tower Hamlets as it filled up, and graves were squeezed in all over the place. At Yardley, I don't think that happened, but they did change over to the area numbers, presumably as the cemetery filled and people were finding it harder to navigate the system.

So for example, the grave I was looking for is 'Section B plot 2962' on the deed, the officer was able to tell me that it's in area 34, but B does not correspond to 34, but rather means that it's near the middle. Only the office can tell you the area number, from their detailed grave maps, which are not presently online. I think there's also a certain amount of local lore involved, as an officer went out to find the grave in person before pegging it. The staff were really helpful and when I reappeared, went out again to show me in person where it was (I don't think I could have found it from it just being marked on a map for me as it was in the very old part of the site), and we had lovely chats about my relatives, cemetery history and whatnot.

Bear in mind I turned up with the original deed. I don't believe they will look up plot numbers from names - you have to do that online at Birmingham Records LINK Some might be on findagrave.com YARDLEY LINK They will put a peg in for 1 year so you can come back at leisure and decide what to do (eg I will weed to recover the tiled edgings and plant bulbs). You are not allowed to put anything permanent on unless you own the grave and pay a fee.

The office is open Monday to Friday mornings. It is rather forbidding looking and looks closed even when it's open. Go in and a friendly welcome awaits, however. Ask for Burial Team.

[Edited for clarity and extra detail]

 

[Astoness]

Reviving the thread following a visit to the office at the cemetery this week. They were very helpful in assisting me to find a grave from the 1890s. The lady explained to me that the letters on old grave deeds do NOT correspond one to one with the modern map numbers, unfortunately. They roughly correspond with how far from the path a grave is, with A a band around each area, nearest the paths.

I know from working at Tower Hamlets Cemetery that in the 19th century, the nearer the path, the higher the cost of a grave [people wanted the front row visibility for status reasons and ease of access]. So the letters are a kind of 1st Class, 2nd Class etc.

This all fell apart at Tower Hamlets as it filled up, and graves were squeezed in all over the place. At Yardley, I don't think that happened, but they did change over to the area numbers, presumably as the cemetery filled up and people became baffled!

So for example, the grave I was looking for is 'Section B plot 2962' on the deed, it's in area 34, but B does not correspond to 34, but rather means that it's near the middle.

The staff in the office were really lovely and helpful and looked for the grave, pegged it and showed me in person where it was. Bear in mind I turned up with the original deed. I don't believe they will look up plot numbers from names - you have to do that online at Birmingham Records before going. Some might be on findagrave.com

The office is open Monday to Friday mornings. It is rather forbidding looking and looks closed even when it's open. Go in and a friendly welcome awaits, however.

thanks tupenny rice that is some valuable info for our members

lyn

 

[Suzanneiom]

Just wanted to add this map. I worked out myself that section 60 corresponds with section D after finding a family member.

I now have another headstone to find in section C which I’m hoping are the sections before that(which would make sense)
Either way… it is annoying when maps change.