The Old Burial Ground in Quinton

Bernard Taylor, Chairman of Quinton Local History Society, stands between the headstones of Edwin Danks and T.J. Stewart Hooson in the old Burial Ground at Quinton.

The Home Office approved an ‘Old Burial Ground’ for the parish of Quinton in August 1890; it lies beside the Day School, and at the rear of the houses in High Street and Ridgacre Road. The Burial Ground was opened because in February 1889 the Churchyard was closed for interments by on Order in Council. To that date, and from 1840, the year of its consecration, 1415 persons had been buried there.

The Bishop of Worcester consecrated the land, donated by Mr A M Chance, on 30 August 1890 for ‘Church’ burials, and the land donated by Mr Albright remained unconsecrated (as is usual) for the burial of ‘Chapel’ people. Mr Chance had paid £158 for the one acre of glebe land to be known as the ‘Old Burial Ground’, he in turn conveyed half of it to Mr Albright for £83.

An agreement was established that one sixth of the consecrated land be kept as a private burial ground for the Chance family, the other five sixths should be available to people of any religious persuasion, provided they were parishioners. The unconsecrated land, on the other hand, was to be available not only to parishioners but to outsiders as well, in return for a fee.

The Burial ground has a central path, the Church, or consecrated side is the eastern half (left of the path); the Chapel side is the western half (to the right). The Rector and Church Council administered the Church side; a body of Free Churchmen, known as the Trustees, administered the Chapel side. The Trustees employed a firm of solicitors to act as their clerk and keep them on the right lines.

In due course, the Old Burial Ground became overcrowded. Quinton had been absorbed into Birmingham, so Birmingham Corporation supplied another cemetery for this part of the Borough, although interments have continued in isolated instances until very recently.

Quinton Cemetery opened in 1923. In 1936 the Chance family gave up part of the burial ground reserved for them, so allowing a further 15-20 graves to be created.

Certain names on the gravestones are synonymous with Quinton History such as Danks (a boilermaker from Oldbury who lived at Apsley house, now the site of the ABC Cinema); T J Stewart-Hooson, the headmaster of Bourne College-a college founded by Hugh Bourne for the sons of Primitive Methodists; George Middleton, Governor of Bourne College; Arthur Masters, Quinton’s fireman, early in the last century. Also buried there are many members of the armed forces, men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for King and country.

The Trustees over the years accumulated some small amounts of money to maintain the area, the gravestones and keep the grassy area tidy. However, the money was soon all used and the Rector contacted the Department of the Environment. It would appear that the land could not be handed over to the Local Authority for care because it was established after 1856.

The upkeep of the ‘Old Burial Ground’ has been a very contentious issue for many years. Who, or indeed what, owns the land and who, or indeed what, is responsible. These questions have been asked repeatedly, the public have been upset on many occasions by the state of the land and the graves, which is the final resting place of loved-ones. The executive committee of Quinton Local History Society, under the chairmanship of Bernard Taylor has decided it is time to act. The society intends to finally resolve this very emotive issue but it needs the help of its members, the community and YOU. The society would like to hear from anyone who can answer YES to one of the following four questions.

• Do you have a loved one buried in the old burial ground?
• Do you know someone who was buried in the cemetery?
• Do you have any information that could be valuable to us?
• Would you like to be involved in the project?

Please help us if you can, contact Bernard Taylor on 0121-422-1792: e-mail on qlhs@bjtaylor.fsnet.co.uk or simply write to :- The Chairman, 15 Worlds End Avenue, Quinton, Birmingham, B32 1JF.

Bernard Taylor, Chairman of Quinton Local History Society, stands in peaceful surroundings in the old Burial Ground at Quinton.