KIRKHEATON O.P.C

News

News Release from Kirkheaton Parish Church, Church Lane, Kirkheaton

First ever graveyard guide brings Kirkheaton stories to life

 Kirkheaton Parish Church are publishing the first ever guide to their well-preserved graveyard. It includes a graveyard tour and many stories of the people who have been buried there for over a thousand years

“It’s a brilliant publication,” says the Rector of Kirkheaton, the Revd Richard Steel. “Full of fascinating stories of those who have been part of the community in the past.”

Stories include:

the young boy killed in the bell tower, during a wedding, one Christmas

a former curate’s wife who died of Typhus

how several of those killed in a reservoir disaster near Holmfirth ended up at Dalton

the “first man in, and last man out” at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815

- as well as discussion of the famous Runic gravestones now in the Tolson Museum, and the Anglo-Saxon cross that is the first evidence of worship on the site.

 “Some of the stories are sad,” continues Mr Steel. “but others are amusing, such as the gravestone damaged by a family of stonemasons through jealousy. There is a real wealth of history here.”

 The guide has been written by local historian John Ellam, with help from a number of others. Mr Ellam has already written another local guide and a book.

 “I was born and baptised in Kirkheaton and became interested in the graveyard when I was researching my book (Huddersfield’s 19th cent Yorkshire Eleven, Oct 2004).” he says. “We have to look after the graveyards because they are the keepers of so much local history and we lose so much if they are just left or dug up and cleared. Hopefully this booklet can point someone in the right direction in finding a bit of their family history or get them interested enough to get them to start looking.”

 “We are very grateful to John and the others.” concluded Mr Steel. “I do hope many will find the guide as interesting as I do, and learn something of the community’s past.”

  Booklets can be purchased  from the Parish Office on School Lane (tel. 01484 531449)