More than 1,300 unmarked graves at old village hospital
TWO sets of gates leading to an asylum cemetery have been refurbished courtesy of a parish council.
Now more work is to take place with the cutting back of trees to allow more light and a roundabout at the main entrance is to be decorated with flowers and plants.
Cheddleton Parish Council, who now oversee the old asylum cemetery grounds at the site of the former St Edward’s Hospital, are taking on the project in memory of those who are buried there.
Research has shown that 1,389 people are buried in the old asylum cemetery grounds. The cemetery was open in 1903 and the last burial took place in 1971.
During research work, Councillor Lisa Salt has also found that about 20 servicemen are buried in the cemetery – including two Germans and one Scandinavian.
However, none of the graves are marked and people walking in the area would not know that the grounds are a cemetery until the parish councillor erected a plaque at the main entrance.
The main entrance gates, which are the original set, have been totally refurbished.
The rear gates are not the original, but these have also been refurbished.
The £3,000 project has been carried out by Ironage Designs of Cruso Street, Leek.
Chairman of Cheddleton Parish Council, Mike Bowen, said: “We have totally refurbished the gates, which would not even close. The entrance gates are the original. These people were disregarded, they should be recognised and respected. There are not even any grave markers to identify that there are graves and no names. It is believed that up to 10 people could be buried in some of the large plots. We have also found out from researching the register that some servicemen are buried in the cemetery. The register also shows that many young people and children are buried in the cemetery grounds.
“The project has been ongoing for about two years. We have taken over the maintenance of the cemetery. A plaque was erected a few years ago at the main entrance off Wall Lane Terrace.
“The next part of the project involves cutting back many of the trees to allow more light in and putting a floral display at the small roundabout at the main entrance. The refurbishment of the large gates has cost £3,000, but they will now last many years.”
Director of Ironage Designs, Kevin Edge, said the project had involved a lot of work.
He said: “It took us two and a half weeks plus two days fitting to complete the project to both gates. We galvanised them so they should now last for many years.”