This massive monument, almost a quadruple plot, was one of if not the very first grave whose overgrowth was checked and peeled back. It turned out to be a very important one, as Hannah here was the reason Christ Church had such a beautiful and well-regarded peal of bells. The bells were bought by her …
Read more “36.9 – James, Hannah, Roland, George and Sarah Howorth, and Mary King”
Vault area graves hold a lot of interments, and this is no exception. The entire Hartley family rests here along with Horace’s wife Nellie. The stone itself has a unique, elegant font on it which isn’t repeated anywhere else in the graveyard, and if there wasn’t so much knotweed plaguing the area you would want …
Read more “V12.11 – Richard, Martha, Nellie, Lilian, Sybil, Horace and Ella Hartley”
You know when sometimes you just…know? Well, we didn’t. We had no idea there were two stones side by side here. John Holt Jr. was, according to the lost sexton’s book, buried in the same plot as little Sarah Taylor just below John and Mary Ann. Actually though he was on the side of his …
Read more “40.38 and 40.39 – John, Mary Ann, and John Holt Jr.”
The grave in question is the one in the left hand foreground of this very atmospheric photo (thanks Andy!) from early spring 2023. We were very fortunate to have a relative in the group, Alec Mamwell, who has provided photos of some of the things we’re not usually able to provide in a story – …
Read more “19.21 – John, Annie and Susan Lupton, and Amy Ford”
This small ledger was upside down, and as it was only small we turned it back right side up to check that the people listed as buried here were indeed here. Cue our chair muttering darkly under his breath about Fieldens. But we love all of Christ Church graveyard’s residents so let’s find out about …
This grave is technically on the private side of the fence, but we aren’t sure if the new fence is precisely located – the TAS transcript placed this grave as the first public one in its town. Either way, Enoch and Martha were the eldest Sandows to come to Todmorden and their children almost all …
We’ve found a lot (a LOT) of displaced sidestones and even headstones in the graveyard, and at first glance these two burial plots seemed to be a similar situation. The Crossleys are buried at 7.41 according to the lost sexton’s book, and Enoch Sandow is buried at 14.18. However, two sidestones with Mary Ann and …
Read more “7.41 and 14.18 – Samuel, Mary Ann and Annie Crossley, and Enoch Sandow”
Herbert Ambrose Fred Glasse is named on this stone, but his father Charles is also buried here. Charles has a lot to answer for in terms of the naming of his sixteen children, and it’s tempting to suppose that the man died of exhaustion physical and mental. We’ll start with his story. Charles Alexander Glasse …
This stone is slightly unusual in that it starts with those buried more recently, rather than the first few into the plot. Chronologically, we need to start with James and Hannah Lather. James Lather was born in Derbyshire in 1844, two years after his future wife Hannah Dean. He was from Spondon and she was …
Read more “17.16 – James and Hannah Lather, Samuel and Elizabeth Greenlees”
The inscription on this lovely Celtic style cross reads: “In Christ is Life. In memory of Joseph Scragg, Stones, Todmorden,died Feby. 17th 1902 aged 46. A valued faithful servant in the Fielden family for 30 years. Also of Emma the beloved wife of the above who died Sepr. 3rd 1917. Aged 64 years. At rest.” …