By David Huk

There are six (known) cemeteries in Failsworth, Dob Lane Unitarian on Oldham Road. being the oldest. Then we have Bethel Methodist New Connexion, also on Oldham Road, which was closed on Home Office orders due to overcrowding on August 15th 1900. St Mary’s RC cemetery is now marked by a lone stone cross as viewed from Griffin Road by the TA Centre. St John’s held its last burial in 1967, leaving two burial grounds extant. They are the Jewish cemetery, opened for the Council of Holy Law South Broughton Congregation on 22nd July 1919, and its next door neighbour the Failsworth cemetery, both reached by Cemetery Road, off Lord Lane.

Mavis Mason of Ashton Road West, Failsworth, spent four months putting the inscriptions of the stones in St John’s Churchyard in alphabetical order.

Failsworth Cemetery is dedicated, but not consecrated, as will be best explained by an article from the Oldham Chronicle, and a snippet from the Oldham Express of the time.

Visit Failsworth Cemetery, there is nothing to fear, I have good friends and neighbours lying there, and I saluted each one with a toothful of vodka. Who cannot marvel at the grave of the magnificently— named Mazepa Greenwood, who cannot marvel at the mis—spellings on the odd. stone — “off,” instead of “of.” — The mason must have been a good ~ chiseller, but a dreadful speller. Examine the ‘stones both front and. back, feel them. Two of the stones bearing Welsh—sounding names are of slate, and during the many visits that I have made to the Failsworth Cemetery, my only companions were squirrels and various birds who were the only ones annoyed by my presence.

Oldham Evening Express 24th June 1887

A special meeting of the Failsworth Local Board was held on Thursday
evening at the Board offices. All the members were present. Mr J Wild (chairman) presiding. An invitation had been sent to the Rev J Barnes to be present at the opening ceremony on Saturday. His reply was as follows:

Failsworth Rectory

June 20th 1887

Dear Sirs,

As the Local Board. shows itself determined entirely to disregard the just rights, as well as the religious sentiments of Church people, we cannot possibly take part in your ceremony on Saturday next.

Josh Barnes, Rector.

JH Forrest Bell, Curate.

The Board fixed the price of graves as follows: For vaults £4, first class graves £2.lOs, second class graves £1.15s. The above is for the residents of Failsworth. The price for non-residents is: Vaults £5, first class graves £5.lOs, second class graves £2.lOs, third class graves £1.15s. The graves are to be 9ft x 4ft and average a depth of l0ft. The prices include the cutting of the first grave.
Opening Ceremony of New Cemetery at Failsworth.

On Saturday (25th June) afternoon the new cemetery laid out by the Local Board of Health of Failsworth was opened, in the presence of a large number of inhabitants of the district. It having previously been decided that the ground should not be consecrated, the ceremony was of an ordinary character, with the addition of a short dedicatory service. Mr J Thomas, a member of the Local Board, presided over the proceedings on a platform arranged outside the chapel. He was supported by Mr James Wild, chairman of the Board; Mr C Trapp, architect; the Revs Josh Bell BA (Congregationalists), G Walker (Wes1~yan), Mr Jonathan Robinson (Swedenborgian), Mr Joseph Lycett (Mission Hall), Mr Frank Field (Secularists), and others.

J Thomas presented Mr James Wild with a handsomely ornamented key to the gates of the cemetery, as a gift from the members of the Local Board and the ratepayers of Failsworth.

Mr J Wild, in accepting the key, said the day would long be remember­ed so far as Failsworth was concerned, as its like would probably never occur again in the lives of any present, for it was calculated that the cemetery would be used for 100 years. (NB It has been used for 116 at the time of writing, but probably a lot more cremations have since taken place than they anticipated).
Proceeding to trace the course of the movement for an additional cemetery (in Failsworth), he said that on 8th September 1882 a meeting was held at which it was decided that a new cemetery should be got. At that meeting one of the speakers said they must either have a new cemetery or a resurrection. (NB Presumably a witty way of saying that St John’s was becoming full).
An agreement was entered into to buy about five acres, and. it was the intention of the Board to buy that amount of land only, but the statute governing such transactions required them to buy all the ground ad­joining within 200 yards of the site, so really the present site contained 9 acres of land.

The corner stone of the (now demolished) chapel was laid by Mr George Whitehead on 9th September 1886, and they had gathered to witness the opening of what they really called their ‘cemetery park.’

The cost of the ground, together with conveyance expenses, was about £1,800 which, considering the price of land in the locality, was not a bad. bargain. The cost of erecting the chapel and the registrar’s house was £1,450, that the boundary walls and palisades cost £1,182, while the main drainage cost £186. The making of roads including material and labour was £426, or a total cost of about £5,050.

The site, as they could see, was very pleasantly situated, and its position in the township almost central. (NB Dead. centre?). The subsoil was chiefly of a sandy nature, and he thought that they would. agree with him that the Board could not have obtained a better plot of land.

Although they were opening the cemetery it was by no means completed. It was the intention of the Board to have those grounds set out in an attractive manner, and although its object was to be a burying place for the dead, yet they thought it also ought to be a gathering place for the living.

They did not wish it to wear a black and barren appearance, though at the same time they must not neglect the business part of it. They did not expect the cemetery to pay for itself for some time to come, so far as £.s.d was concerned, but they would have other returns of a higher order. At present the only other burying place in the township was nearly full, (NB St John’s — The last burial was in fact some 80 years later.), and if its people had in future to bury their dead outside the township the money for the graves would go outside the district. They would not only have that, but would be able to accommodate people from outside, and so bring grist to the mill.

The Chairman explained that the Board had decided to dedicate the cemetery in a manner which they considered best, without any distinct­ion of class or creed. They would hold a service based on the doctrine of all.

Mr Jonathan Robinson addressed the gathering. He said that although he might hold different opinions to most of them with regard to the best means of putting away their dead, he thought that the Board had acted wisely in selecting the site.
The Chairman incidentally remarked that all denominations of religion in the township, with, the exception of Church of England and the Roman Catholics were represented on the platform.

After the opening ceremony the members of the Local Board and invited guests adjourned. to the offices of the Local Board, where a substantial tea was partaken of Mr Geo Whitehead said he regretted there were not more ministers present with them that day, and especially the minister of the parish. He was invited, but declined to come, and therefore the blame was not with the Local Board.

Mr Frank Field said from a sanitary point of view they had done their work well. Many of the churchyards were filled with the dead in such a manner as to make it injurious to the living. In this modern cemetery the sexton had not to dig among whole generations to find grave space. He was happy to find they were working with the spirit of the age in not having consecrated ground, which carried with it certain and special privileges. There was common equality in what they had done that day, and if any person wished to read the RC or Secular, or Unitarian, or Wesleyan form over their dead, it could be done without interference. When the time arrived for the disestablishment of the C of E they would not have to settle the matter there in Failsworth, because they had already settled it in what they had done that day.

Mr J Thomas in responding, said be had taken a firm stand on this question of religious equality. They recognised the Church people, who were a privileged class, and had the advantage of wealth and universities with them could not expect it always to be.
The cemetery is 9 acres in extent and is approached from Lord Lane by a carriage drive of about 20 yards wide. (NB This seems a bit too wide and probably was 20ft. Presumably the present—day Cemetery Road or Laycock Crescent, as this would give a straighter line through the gates). The entrance gates are of wrought iron, the centre gate being a folding double one for carriages, on either side of which are smaller gates for pedestrians. The gates are hung on massive Warwick stone pillars, having carved bosses and a final at the top in the form of a cross. From this gateway is another wide carriage drive leading down to the chapel. Emerging from the carriage drive will be footpaths right and left to prevent persons continually walking over the graves. The boundary wall which is a 9ft brick wall with Yorkshire stone copings, is surmounted. with ornamental palisades all round the grounds. The unevenness of the ground has been carefully considered by steps in the wall. (ie the wall stepped. to follow the lay of the land). 

The chapel (now gone) is of Gothic architecture, without any pre­tensions to elaborate ornamentations, but simple and plain, and. suitable in every for its requirements. To the right of the chapel entrance is the mortuary, which is screened off from the chapel by a glazed screen. This is an excellent improvement on the old system of having the dead brought into the chapel. Here in the mortuary will be laid the coffins containing the dead, which can be seen by the mourners inside the chapel without any fear of contagion. The seats and roof (ceiling) are of pitch pine. The vestry is at the left hand corner of the chapel, adjoining which is the closet and cellars with the heating apparatus. The chapel stands on a little hillock, which gives it a most commanding appearance. The registrar’s (James Heap) house (gone) is near the entrance gates. The house contains office, parlour, two kitchens, and a pantry, with 3 bedrooms and bathroom.

During the summer of 1997 I read all the inscriptions on all the gravestones in Failsworth cemetery. Although the cemetery was opened in 1887, the oldest stone I could find. is that of John Moore (plot MV55) who died May 1889.
If you enter the cemetery through the main gates, and turn first left, three parts of the way down the path to the lower gate leading to Durham Crescent, on your left you will note a gap of some yards between plots CMIa (Lyon), and EQ2a (Swain). A small, sickly, rivulet of water will be observed on the path behind these graves — the 11carriagewaytt that divides Failsworth cemetery from the Jewish one. The un-named flow must enter the Failsworth cemetery here, and perhaps is directed down under the manhole seen at this point, never to be seen again, Or the sluggish water may crawl beneath the cemetery to meet a tributary of Lords Brook somewhere by Alder Rd./Warwick Rd., or sink away into the “sandy soil.”
There are 27 War Commission graves in Failsworth cemetery, and I recorded them in no particular order. The first recorded bears a Star of David, (ie Jewish), but why he wasn’t buried in the adjacent Jewish cemetery, I have no idea — it had been open for burials 27 years at the time of his death. (Sergeant may appear).
PLOT
FB2. 1492099 LDG Aircraftman L Demsteader RAF, 10th Nov 1946, age 40.
DH3O. 35228472 Trooper W Kennedy ,Royal Armoured Corps.lst Jan 1943,age 24.
LD62. 54400 Pte H Leigh, Cheshire Regiment, 12th Dec 1918, age 18.
LK23. 29112 Pt E Wild, Manchester Regiment, 18th Feb 1917, age 28.
LG29. 276184 Pt A Capewell, M/c Regiment, 25th Nov 1918, age 21.
LE4O. 16179 Pt J Oxley, East Lancs Regiment, 9th July 1916, age 53.
LB48. 2267 Serjeant AB Price, Royal Flying Corps, 25th Jan 1917, age 26.
LC52. N/408341. Pt T Collier, Royal Army Service Corps, 12th July 1918, age 36.
LA48. 1686531. Sergeant A Davies, Navigator/Wireless operator RAF, 17th May 1945, age 22.
IJG2O. PLY/X105483. Marine, J Allen, Royal Marines, 9th Aug 1944, age 36.
LFI5. 82544.Driver, W Grant, Royal Field Artillery, 6th Dec 1920, age 24.
NSI4. 186534 Serjeant D Toms, Royal Army Service Corps, 15th Nov 1944, age 33.
NH25. 16701 Pt M Simm, North Staffordshire Regiment, 5th Nov 1915, age 41.
MH24. 1266745 Flight Serjeant A Waters, RAF, 17th July 1918, age 47.
AF6. PLY 18812 Pt RM? G Perrin, HMS Ariani, 26th July 1917, age 18.
FN2. 1434380 Gunner ~E Felton, Royal Artillery, 15th June 1946 age 58.
FKI. 3649172 Trooper N Carter, Royal Armoured Corps, 15th July 1944,age 40.
GA4. 1773014 Gunner H Nutall, Royal Artillary, 1st Aug 1941, age 25.
GEI4 (approx) 224548 Serjeant H Gaskell, Army Catering Corps, 5th June 1946, age 34.
GL2I (approx) RN D/KX 107478 Leading Stoker JW Lane NM, HNS Forte, 7th Nov 1944, age 46.
GQ2I. D/34655 Pt H Leach, East Lancs Regiment, 11th Mar 1941, age 45.
GQ2O. 1475072 Aircraftman 2nd class W Hawthorne, RAF, 8th Feb 1942, age 57.
GQI9. Major JJ Moss, Royal Army Pay Corps, 19th Sept 1944, age 51.
KJII. T/586897 Driver AE Perrin, Royal Army Service Corps, 6th Mar 1920, age 59.
KJI2. 252381 Pt H Tiffany, M/c Regiment, 3rd. Dec 1919, age 21.
KM9. 215741 ~unner F Hipwell, Royal Garrison Artillery, 12th April 1921, age 36.
KJ19. 14065 Lance Corp Wilkin Summerscales MM, Manchester Reg, 29th Oct 1918, age 20.

I have also recorded 74 private war memorial inscriptions.

In Sept 1916 the Registrar’s house and office at Failsworth cemetery were in such a bad state — damp walls &c — that he was removed to 74 Wrigley Head whilst extensive repairs were carried out. (Cemetery House was less than 50 years old). However, the, registrar reported that “Briardale” situate at the Lord Lane end of the cemetery had become vacant, and was much nearer the place than Wrigley Head, so he took up residence there. He was also ordered to keep fires burning in the house and. office at the cemetery with a view to preventing deterioration of the property through damp. The repairs must have been carried out because from 1st September 1925 he received (with bonus) £230 per annum plus free residence, coal, gas, and a kitchen garden. It’s a good job that he moved back to the Cemetery House, because it was reported in 1926 that “pilfering was continually taking place from graves there.”

In April 1940 questions were raised about the covering of the Poor Graves at Failsworth cemetery. The FUDC was asked if some other form of covering could be used instead of wooden planks. (They had to fill the communal graves up with coffins before they were back—filled.

In 1942 Mr J Gowdrid.ge resigned as Failsworth Cemetery Registrar and Parks Superintendent on 50th April. He was replaced by Mr Richard Fogg (41) of Radcliffe, who was married with three children, and was expected to live at the house provided for them at 16 Waugh Avenue.

In December 1948 it was agreed to build a new brick office and ante­room at the right hand side of the cemetery gates, and the old building, which had been giving trouble, demolished. It had not been removed by 1950, because the registrar had to use the chapel vestry during the winter months owing to the condition of his office.

They had extensive greenhouses tucked away at Failsworth cemetery to supply the Parks Department with flower cuttings &c. In 1943 it was declared. that “all tomatoes grown at the cemetery must be reported to the Tomato Allocation Board.”
Sadly, in Feb 1951 the registrar reported it had been a record month for burials at the cemetery, and. paid tribute to his staff for coping with the trying weather conditions, and by 1965, 14,822 interments had taken place there.

By November 1965 the registrar, Mr Fogg, was approaching retirement age (65) after a long career (23 years) at the cemetery. The following year, in the October, The Rev K Newton of St John’s made a gift of an altar for the cemetery chapel on behalf of the Failsworth Council of Churches. At the same time estimates were required for the demolition of the Lodge (registrar’s house and office) and the erection of new offices with living accommodation in an attempt to stamp out the vand­alism that was taking place in the cemetery grounds, and to the chapel.

In Jan 1967 a £300 estimate was received for demolishing the Lodge, but no estimate yet for the building of a new one.
Failsworth Cemetery is extant but with no chapel and a brick—built lock—up office/storage room.