Genealogy Chat

Hi,

whilst browsing through burial records from the 1850s I noticed there seems to have been three different classes of burial which applied to both common and private graves, does anyone know what this meant? I have googled and had no luck.

thanks
Caz

It was all to do with social classes, the upper-class didn't want to associate with the lower classes, even when they were dead!

First class was normally the best part of the Cemetery, near to the entrance and paths where visitors could see the massive monuments and gravestones that the rich people had.

The 2nd class was the next best. People paying for 1st and 2nd class areas for their burial were able to choose the specific plot they wanted. The 3rd class had no choice where they were allocated. There are usually fewer headstones in the third class area because people could not afford to pay for them.

The 4th class is where the paupers and those who died in the workhouse were buried at public expense. There was no headstone for these people. The few headstones there are were added later by relatives who had found where the deceased were buried.

Sam x

Thanks Sam. I had no idea.

Caz