Genealogy Chat

Has anyone been to this cemetery lately? If so, would they be kind enough to tell me what sort of a state it is in. Thankyou. Bernie

Woodgrange Park Cemetery, Manor Park In 2000, there was a lively correspondence about Woodgrange Park Cemetery in Manor Park [East London] and some of the headstones to be used on the Emmerdale Farm [ TV soap] set in Yorkshire, prepararatory to the sale of part of of the cemetery for housing. The London Evening Standard carried a full page report and pictures on the work of exhumation. The pictures are of a piles of discarded coffins and a large JCB at work as men sift through the soil for bones. The Graves of East London civilians killed during the worst raids in the Blitz are being bulldozed today to make way for flats. ...the remains of about 15,000 people are being dug up and bagged in plastic bin-liners. .....Screens were erected around the graves but residents of flats overlooking the site said they have been shocked to see skeletons unearthed by mechanical diggers . . According to Council records the graves date back to the 1890s but during the height of the Blitza a 20ft deep pit was dug to take the thousands of casualties. Most of the graves were unmarked, but details of the dead were entered in a burial register. Newham Council contacted 21 families and their relatives were exhumed and re-buried in part of the cemetery still in use. The 27-acre cemetery is privately owned. The deal to sell part of the site for residential development was done after Newham agreed planning permission for 120 two-bedroom flats.

The Friends of Woodgrange Cemetery would like to add the following statement; 'The memorial stones used in Emerdale were not sold ...they were taken off by the cemetery owners ready to be broken up and put in a skip ..but the chairman of the friends of Woodgrange cemetery knew the people from Emmerdale were creating a cemetery for the programme and they agreed that they would come down from yorkshire wrap each stone individually and transport them back to yorkshire .but if anyone came forward at a later date and wanted their memorial stone they would bring it back.The stones were not bought no money what so ever changed hands they were just saved from being broken up. All of those buried in the squares used for housing have been re-intered within the cemetery ....mostly in mass graves ..but those that have been in touch with us or the cemetery since the begining and have wanted their relative buried in a seperate grave have their wish ..The fight was going on a very long time to stop the housing ,to the House of Lords and back in fact , but without success'

www.derelictlondon.com

In total there are 16,000 graves in the cemetery. Currently, it is mainly Muslim burials which take place within Woodgrange Park Cemetery, in a recently-designated area specifically for this purpose. Elsewhere in the cemetery, burials are now taking place between existing grave beds and the original headstones removed. Refurbishment In 1993 the Woodgrange Park Cemetery Act was passed, allowing redevelopment of part of the cemetery. This generated £400,000 additional funds for cemetery refurbishment and £500,000 for future maintenance. Previously buried remains from this section of the cemetery have been moved to a Garden of Remembrance which is still to be developed. Badgehurst Ltd (the cemetery management) are working on refurbishment plans for the rest of the cemetery. The only income Woodgrange receives is burial fees and a small amount for grave maintenance. The renovation of the cemetery's Chapel of Rest would cost in the region of £140,000 and there are not sufficient funds available. Discussions are under way to determine whether renovation should take place or the chapel should be pulled down.

Hello Bernie, It's in a terrible state, rubbish smashed gravestones and everything is overgrown... my nan and grandad was buried there but they were removed and put into a mass grave for new flats.. karen.

Thank you Carol and Karen for your replies. I guess it would be best not to visit as obviously I am too late. My grandfather was buried there in 1916. There was space allocated for my grandmother but luckily, obviously, she was buried near Eastbourne in 1972 so I feel very pleased about that. I can't understand the local powers that be and their thinking on this matter - no respect for the dead and their remaining family. My grandfather's grave was dug 10 ft. deep so possibly his remains are still there (I have the original receipt from the cemetery!) Thank you once again. Bernie

I was horrified when I read what was going on at that cemetery as my grandfather is buried there. I have visted it but it was some years back now. I just wonder what has happend to my Grandfathers remains, poor soul Gwen

You and me both Gwen. It beggars belief what these Councils get away with these days. They must be very insensitive people in those parts. Bernie

Woodgrange Park Cemetery Company 540 Romford Road Manor Park London E7 8AF Tel: 0181 472 3433 First burial: February 1889 Registers from 1981 held at Cemetery, together with card index in numerical order for private graves. All registers held at: Badgehurst Ltd Fen Lane Orsett Essex RM16 3LT Tel: 01375 891440 Fax: 01375 892928 No personal searches. Request for search to Badgehurst as above, stating name of deceased, date of burial or death or grave number. Current charge ten pounds sterling. Karen.

Got to tell you this one.....There was/is a gate house at this cemetary and a relative of my grandmother lived there. In fact, my grandmothers sister got married from the house in the cemetary and her nick name after that was.....Cemetary Kate... Kathlyn

Thank you Karen for the latest information; it would appear that they only have relatively recent information at Badghurst and do not welcome other enquiries and no personal searches. Kathlyn, thank you for your input! Bernie

Your welcome... Karen.

To mark for me, my mother is buried there.

nudge for me - my family moved to Essex from Manor Park in 1930s so guess there are (or should I say were) some relatives at this cemetry - Gill :))

I was a police officer at Forest Gate in the 60's and 70's and used to keep bees in a quite corner of this cemetery. If my memory serve me correctly, building of the flats began in the late 60's or early 70's as I had to have a word with the workers as complaints had been received regarding disrespect for the dead. Even in those days the cemetery was a wilderness and poorly maintained