David seeks answer to gravestone riddle
AMAN set out on an intriguing journey back a century when he came across – by chance – a gravestone bearing his own home address.
The riddle began when David Treanor, 82, discovered the grave in Rawtenstall Cemetery.
He found that that grave belonged to Edmund Nuttall who died almost exactly a century ago in 1921 – and lived at the house he had just moved into on Rockcliffe Street.
And now David is appealing for any descendants or anyone who might know anything about Edmund to come forward.
“I was just wandering around one day, looking at the stones,” David said.
“It was a nice day and I was just having a stroll round and I was just attracted to this stone.
“I looked at the address and thought, ‘that’s unusual, it’s the house I’ve just moved into’. It caused a bit of excitement.”
David, who moved to Rawtenstall from Northern Ireland last January, then told his niece, who lives in Toronto, Canada about his discovery – but her attempts at researching Edmund proved fruitless.
David said: “Wouldn’t it be nice if one of his relatives got in contact? Years ago you could have looked in the telephone book; they’re a thing of the past now.
“Finding the Nuttall family would be nice. To get a photo would be superb – if there’s relatives still around, you never know, do you?!”
David also plans to place a rose on Edmund’s grave to mark the 100th anniversary of his death on March 1.
Also on the gravestone are details of Edmund’s family. He was married to Alice, was father of Albert and father-in-law to Phoebe and died at the age of 72.
After reading about the history of Rossendale in a book he got for Christmas, David told his friend Phil Hampson, who in turn suggested contacting the Rossendale Free Press to see if any relatives could be tracked down.
Phil said it was odd that the first gravestone David saw was one with the address of the house he had just moved into. He said: “He showed me the photograph of the gravestone and it just seemed like an interesting story, with it coming up to exactly 100 years.
“I wonder if anyone knew this guy or knew anyone who knew this guy or had any records or family photos. With it being 1921, I wondered if it had anything to do with the Spanish Flu – it probably had nothing to do with that, but it’s just curious isn’t it?”
If you have any information about Edmund Nuttall email freepressnews@menmedia.co.uk .