One of the first stories we told from under the school extension was that of the Dodd family – that was because on the two out of their three sidestones, which are unaccountably resting on the outside of the school extension, one included a hitherto unrecorded family member. Since then we’ve found unmentioned people, stones …
Read more “S2.9 – Herbert, John Robert, Betsy and Arnold Cunliffe, and Jack Uttley”
The farmer’s daughter who became a nurse and was one of several sisters who came to Todmorden. We can’t see her stone, but we can learn a great deal about her life. Catherine was born in 1839 in Arkholme, in the parish of Melling in Lancashire, just south of Kirkby Lonsdale. Her father John was …
Percy’s story is short, but the story of why he’s alone here is longer – so have both! First, his story as summarised by our Chair, Andy: “This is the grave of Percy Gill, he is reposing in Christ Church Graveyard. Percy is my 1st cousin, 3 times removed …… Aye, I don’t understand it …
This is another grave hidden under the school extension, and another explanation about why these graves matter. It starts with those we know are buried here and ends with those who we can only guess at, for now. Harold Allister was born in 1895 to James and Louisa Allister. In 1908 he can be found …
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”
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 …
Although it is in extremely poor condition, we are fairly confident that our researchers have discovered the identities of those on this stone. It’s a good thing we came along because this was previously not transcribed and is on the verge of becoming entirely unreadable. We believe that this is the headstone for three children …
Read more “36A.22 – Peter, Mary and Elizabeth Ann Murray (previously unmarked)”
Ici repose Mademoiselle Maria [Marie-Antoinette L. J.] Vanhoey nee a Malines le 17th Novembre 1877. Pieusement decedee a Todmorden le 5th Janvier 1915. (Refugiee Belge.) Priez pour elle! Todmorden gave refuge to a number of Belgians during WW1 and this lady is one of them. She died from bronchitis three weeks after arriving from Belgium, …
Richard is one of those who died elsewhere and is commemorated here; after researching him, we wondered who had loved him enough to bother. Richard was a wheelwright from Knowlwood who was not very good to his wife and children. He married Martha Ann Greenwood in Oldham in 1867, although he was a Tod lad …
Read more “16.28 – Richard and Martha Ann Chaffer, and Hannah and James Stansfield”
“Previously unmarked” is underselling things; this was one of the most frustrating graves we’ve come across at Christ Church. Some stones were buried, some were dislodged, and only a great deal of investigative work across all available online family history platforms allowed us to reassemble the sidestones and ensure they were where they belonged, and …
Read more “15.33 – John Glynn, Mary Ann, Mary and Thomas Kendall (previously unmarked)”