The Fairmile Cemetery.

Go into the new graveyard at Cholsey Church and over on the far left hand side you will see this plaque commemorating the those who were buried there.

 "This Plaque is to commemorate all those who have been laid to rest in this churchyard and cemetery from Fairmile Hospital 1870 - 2003

"The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms"    

             Deuteronomy 33v27 

Underneath are two other plaques placed there in memory of who I assume were patients there. My parents would have known if they had been alive.
The original  cemetery was over on the south west side.

A few headstones can be seen in the area though there is one which watches over them.

The grave belonged to Dr James William Murdock who was the superintendent at the Hospital  His last wish was that he was buried with his patients so he could watch over them

The inscription reads
"Write me as one (who laboured for) Loved his fellow men the Angel wrote"
He died on 28th April 1917 His wife Celia who is buried with him passed away on 9th October 1962 aged 92 years.
The statue used to have a trumpet but that disappeared many years ago.
There are a few headstones left in that part of the churchyard though I think it would have been full of cast iron grave markers 

 

Like these in the photo's above, when I was young lad I used to cut the grass in the churchyard and was always coming across them.
When the churchyard ran out of room an extension was built next door  and the Fairmile cemetery went next door as well.

The is the second Fairmile cemetery with a few headstones  showing, no doubt provided by their estate and relatives. Most of them have no marker to remember them. I'm also not sure if the area was used for paupers graves as I seem to remember an open grave with planks on which I was told was for this purpose.

One of the headstones you see above is to Ronald Leslie Walker or Les as his friends knew him. He used to work with my Father  for many years
 

 Another person or persons who worked at Fairmile were Moses Nicholls and Avery Nicholls the latter who I think was the son of Moses. Both worked as Stewards of Fairmile.  Moses is buired with his Wife  Maria and Avery with his Sister Blanche who I knew as Miss Nicholls and remember her riding a bicycle round the village and visiting a lady who lived next door to  me

William or Bill Southby who is buried with is parents was another member of staff who worked at Fairmile and was a keen sportsman. He now has a close named after him New housing at Fairmile. His grave like the last is in the old Churchyard

The O'Brians were family friends and used to live in the Star Terrace before moving to the new housing built in 1960 along Papist way I went to school with the oldest son and was Friends with him for years till we lost touch. Last I heard was that he had moved to Ireland. His younger brother Paul young like his Mother.

 The name Ethel Mary Fetherstone is a name I recognise but I could not tell you any more at the moment. The cemetery here is still provided for by the NHS in maintenance costs though there are few headstones there to remind you of what the place was used for. When you walk round the cemetery you can recognise many of the staff who worked there including my parents. A few I have shown and will add more in future.
The plaque on the wall is the reminder of those who lay buried here RIP.

Nineteen Eighy Four

Many of you will recognise the number as being from the book of the same name by George Orwell, his real name was Eric Arthur Blair 
Now like many of you I read the book when I was young as part of my literature for the exam's I would be taking but I never realised he was only buried a few miles away from my home. It was not until my later life I found this out and decided to visit when I had the chance which came about when I decided to take some photos from round Sutton Courtenay which is where his last resting place is.

All Saints Church is Sutton Courtenay

All Saint s church from the churchyard, I would have taken some photos inside but there was a service on, so another day.

Interesting porch this it was built built with money left to the poor of the parish by the 15th-century Bishop Thomas Bekynton of Bath & Wells. The obviously thought that saving the souls of the poor was more important than feeding them.

Walking on into the churchyard at he back you cannot but help noticing this tomb of Herbert Henry Asquith who was  the prime minister of England  from 1908 - 1916 he preferred to be buried here rather than Westminster Abbey

Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith tomb with the church in the background. Asquith lived nearby in a house which I think is no owned by Helena Bonham Carter  mind you he was her Great-Grandfather.

 It took a while to find Orwell's grave which was only done after I phoned my wife and she told me where to look after looking on the Internet.

 

As you can see  it is a simple headstone with a rose growing in front.

Behind you can see the grave of his friend David Astor

 Who when he heard his fried was to be buried in the churchyard bought both plots so he could be buried nearby.

The churchyard is well worth looking round  at the old graves which is parts are over grown.

And who knows you may well find some interesting ones there. I will return again to get a few photos of the inside which I will post on here for you to see. I hope you have enjoyed my tour of this churchyard.

Glastonbury Cemetery

Not sure how I came across this cemetery we had driven past the place but I'm sure I noticed it on an Ordnance Survey Map. It was on my list of places to visit and last Saturday I had the chance. It is set on the side of St Edmund's Hill along the Wells Road with some nice views over the surrounding countryside.

From the road it could be easy to miss with the houses along the side of the road.

The main entrance is through the arch though there is a side one along to the right at the end of the wall.

 Walking through the entrance the road turns left 

and brings you to the two chapels

though after looking through the window of this one it looks like it is just used for storage of the groundmens equipment.

The other one though is available to hire for use and I was pleased to see a wheeled  bier at the back.

The internals of the chapel look as though they have not changed since it was built.

This view towards the chapels is from the lower path looking up the hill. This area has some of the older graves .

Looking down to the lower path across the graves

 A column  memorial made of marble

Above are a couple of the headstones the one on the left has and inscription which tells of a Cecil Emery who was killed in action in Palestine  1917

The right hand one has this dove which sadly looks to be eroding away.

Walking up to the top path you get  a great view of both surrounding area and the cemetery

You can view the many different monuments down the hillside

dating back  to the 19th century

 The graves are kept in good condition

There are many different types of headstone but lots of crosses in evidence
 

Even the odd wooden one

Along the top path you can also see the green burial ground

There quite a few green burial there over looking the cemetery, they are left to blend in with the surrounding area with no markers.






Carry on along the path from the green burial ground and you come the more recent part

Looking down the cemetery to where I parked my car and did enter the place.

Lichen grows on  the headstones

I love finding an angel like this

If you go round the other side it tells you who they are

This grave was one I spotted on the way in and is of Lee Baker who was a retained fireman, he died in an unfortunate motorcycle on the way home from a shift. RIP

Glastonbury Cemetery
Taking part in  Taking Part in Cemetery Sunday & Tapophile Tragics
Have a peaceful Sunday