Funeral Bier installed at Cemetery

Last year, I received a call from Fran Hughes to the effect that a Mr & Mrs Hamilton were moving house from Crewe to Hankelow and they asked if they could donate a Funeral Bier to the village.

This Bier, which dates from around 1870/1890 was used by folks who could not afford a carriage and horses with the glass walled hearse for the burial of their loved ones. Trundled along the streets and bearing the coffin,most often by a relative of the deceased.

So -- full of interest, I took my trailer to their house in Crewe and we loaded the Bier on. In pouring rain. A really dark and rainy day- reminded me of Shelley's stories!- First time it had seen the light of day for years and years, having been stored in their large garage.

Home to Buerton and in my own place for some weeks.
Then to take it to Roy Booth's place for re-furbishing during the winter months. Roy is a member of the small staff we have here at the Cemetery keeping it spruced up, as all can see, for the past 16 years or so.

This week I walked it from his house to the cemetery -- as was the custom all those years ago. Now it resides here in all its glory as a marker of the past.

My photograph is evidence of just that. And we hope all who visit our cemetery will admire it as a fine thing of days gone by.A piece of history for all to see.

Our very sincere thanks to Mr & Mrs Hamilton for their very fine gesture. We hope they will be happy with the work we have put in to restore its now fine condition.

Ralph Warburton
Audlem Cemetery

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