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.” …
This grave tells a very interesting story – one of definite grief and confusion, and one of possible suicide or a corporate cover-up. The reader will have to decide. You can find it next to the cedar growing out of the middle of the lower half of the graveyard next to the informal path. Jane …
Annie was born in late 1855 in Mortimer, Berkshire. Her life was rather short and so there’s little to tell, but like so many others here, she is another single child whose parents came to Todmorden and then left again; the story of how she got here is more detailed than anything we could say …
This couple died many years and many, many miles apart! What’s their story? Sutcliffe Thomas was born in September 1825. His parents Richard and Hannah, of Wadsworth, baptised him and his brother John at Longfield Wesleyan Chapel some time later. Sutcliffe apprenticed as a plasterer and in 1841 was found living with his (maternal) aunt …