Memorial to the forgotten

An update on the Memorial to 59 Men, Women and Children who lay forgotten in the bottom of the cemetery. 

To re-cap for you, I discovered these unmarked graves in studying the registers after taking on my job running the cemetery. The area was covered in brambles, weeds, waste soil and a rabbit warren. 

In these graves were the mortal remains of 59 persons – ranging in age from 30 minutes to 79 years – buried in the period from the year 1877 to 1948. And no doubt many of the men here lying had fought for their country in the Great War.

They were buried in mixed graves and in what was then unhallowed ground. This ground – and all other such ground – has now been sanctified. 

The Burial Committee have in their wisdom and care set in work a stone to record the passing of all who lie here.

Accordingly I ordered the stone from Rogers of Nantwich. The stone is one of Granite and is sourced from the quarries in South East India – recognised as the finest in the world. 

The rough stone weighed in at around 4 tonnes and now, in its dressed form of 1.7 tonnes, is on the high seas sailing to the UK. 

The base for the stone has been laid in advance of its arrival using 1 tonne of concrete. 

Once the stone arrives in Nantwich, the full details of the dead will be carved thereon and then we will organise the affixing of it in its chosen position. 

The photos show the quarry, the rough stone and the dressed stone. 

I am pleased to report that some have sent in kind donations towards the cost of remembering these forgotten ones.

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