Graveyard closed at Haworth West Lane Methodist Church as tombstones topple (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Graveyard closed at Haworth West Lane Methodist Church as tombstones topple
7:20am Monday 11th February 2013 in News
By Miran Rahman
Bernard Thompson with a large headstone which has fallen over in Haworth West Lane Methodist Church graveyard
Unstable tombstones and sinking graves have made a Haworth graveyard out of bounds to casual visitors and dog walkers.
The graveyard behind Haworth West Lane Methodist Church is more than 200 years old. Members of the church council said they reluctantly took the decision to lock the gates to the site because they were concerned for the safety of members of the public.
Superintendent minster Jacky Hale stressed access would still be provided for people wishing to visit or tend to particular graves.
“We don’t want to exclude anyone, we’re just trying to take care of their safety,” she said.
“People who need to go into the churchyard can call a number displayed on the gates to make an appointment and gain access.
“Some of the headstones are very unstable and because a lot of the graves are starting to sink someone could step on one and the ground could give way.”
Church steward Bernard Thompson, who lives in Long Lee, explained the churchyard that is now locked is one of two graveyards connected to the church.
“There’s a graveyard lower down, but it’s a much newer one and there isn’t a problem with that,” he said.
“We’re locking up the top graveyard. This has been used on a daily basis by dog walkers – it’s a shortcut to the cricket field.
“One of the headstones has already fallen onto the path.
“I can imagine a situation where someone’s dog falls down a hole, then their owner could end up in the same situation.Only one or two of the graves are actually tended by anyone, and we haven’t had a funeral there for many, many years.
“Locking it up isn’t something we particularly want to do, but although we own the graveyard we don’t own the graves.
“It’s such a big job to keep the graveyard in order. My wife and I have spent four years trying to keep on top of it.”
Comments(7)
Albion.
says...
11:05am Mon 11 Feb 13
stonetool
says...
12:16pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Albion. wrote:The story says that "few graves are visited" .This implies that over the years it is that relatives are not alive or cannot be contacted to comply with the legal requirement to ensure a memorial is safe and kept.This places a heavy burden on the cemetery owners, financially. There is the option available under legislation to have safety work carried out without contacting owners on the proviso that a memorial has been deemed "an immediate danger"..or is a clear danger to the public.So the actual grave is the responsibility of the owners and not the cemetery owners though the cemetery owners have a duty of care to the public.It is unfair to the cemetery owners when things like this occur and grave owners cannot be found for whatever reason.
Isn't it the responsibility of the church to maintain these graves? Presumably most or all of the burial plots were paid for.
stonetool
says...
12:42pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Albion. wrote:The story says that "few graves are visited" .This implies that over the years it is that relatives are not alive or cannot be contacted to comply with the legal requirement to ensure a memorial is safe and kept.This places a heavy burden on the cemetery owners, financially. There is the option available under legislation to have safety work carried out without contacting owners on the proviso that a memorial has been deemed "an immediate danger"..or is a clear danger to the public.So the actual grave is the responsibility of the owners and not the cemetery owners though the cemetery owners have a duty of care to the public.It is unfair to the cemetery owners when things like this occur and grave owners cannot be found for whatever reason.
Isn't it the responsibility of the church to maintain these graves? Presumably most or all of the burial plots were paid for.
Not so simple
says...
12:43pm Mon 11 Feb 13
sitors to pay towards the upkeep of the areas significant sites. the local associations of shopkeepers, tourist attractions and residents groups should band together and work something out ASAP.
stonetool
says...
1:57pm Mon 11 Feb 13
Not so simple wrote:couldnt agree more .......Mr Thompson has legislative options available where any "known relative" can be contacted and enforcement of upkeep and safety of individual plots applied.....I wonder if these issues are known to Mr Thompson,
As the graveyard and the general area is a tourist attraction, I would place a small levy on the attractions/sites/vi
sitors to pay towards the upkeep of the areas significant sites. the local associations of shopkeepers, tourist attractions and residents groups should band together and work something out ASAP.
bullybullman
says...
2:09pm Mon 11 Feb 13
stonetool says...
9:02am Mon 11 Feb 13
I am a qualified Memorial headstone Safey inspector and see many unsafe headstones. I will happily do free safety assessments should Mr Thompson wish contact me via this e-mail brandon1975@hotmail.
co.uk