Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project
Transcribing the
Monumental Inscriptions
of the Manchester General Cemetery
before they are lost forever
The Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project is being undertaken by a team of volunteers whose intention is to transcribe as many of the headstones within Manchester General Cemetery as possible before they are lost forever due to them falling through age and decay or by them being toppled in accordance with Health and Safety Regulations. We believe that the headstones are more than just memorials in a cemetery but they actually contain a wealth of historical data. The project is carried out in our own free time and is totally non-commercial.
The data in the form of typed transcriptions (not photographs) will be donated to Manchester Archives where it will be freely accessible once the project is complete and we are already offering a
FREE-OF-CHARGE LOOKUP SERVICE via our CONTACT PAGE. Some of the information (not the full transcription) may be included on the Manchester City Council's Burial Records website so family historians will be able to perform basic online searches. The photographs taken for the purposes of transcription will be handed over to the Manchester City Council Bereavement Services Team. The reason for this is that although a grave may be situated in a public place the headstone is private property for which permission needs to be granted for a photograph to be published. We have obtained special permission from Manchester City Council to take photographs for transcription purposes only.
News 1
We have transcribed all upright and visible gravestones and uncovered and recorded about 99.9% of buried gravestone within the now cemetery grounds. We are still working on the other minimal % to be uncovered and recorded and hope to complete 2024.
News 2
The Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project has changed host, In September 2019 our last count of visitors to the old websites totalled
168,256 Having taken a break for 12 months we are back and have made a few improvements on the site especially the size of the reading text.
News 3
On a recent visit to the cemetery it was noted that new fencing has been erected at the back of the cemetery where the public Consecrated graves are, as this area is covered in Japanese Knotweed we think it is now unlikely to be treated to destroy it.
News 4
On a visit to the Cemetery after an extended break due to Covid. Manchester City Council Bereavement Services erected in ALL their Cemeteries, Memorial Stones and planted a Tree to those who lost their lives in the Covid19 Pandemic. (not all Cemeteries have interments for Covid19)
Latest News
The project was contacted by a BBC producer in regards to the poet 'Robert Rose' who is buried in the Manchester General Cemetery, our very own member 'Jeanne' met with them at the Cemetery where she uncovered his buried grave stone for them to view and her fabulous knowledge and research will hopefully help them in producing their programme on Robert Rose 'The Bard of Colour' we await an update from them and will update this latest news article. Thank you Jeanne!
Left:
The BBC Producer contacted us to inform us the programme in regards to Robert Rose will air
on Sunday 4th February 2024 at 4.30pm BBC Radio 4
Sadly one the oldest trees in the Cemetery was blown over on a very windy night.
As it fell to the ground it landed on one of the few Non Con Public gravestones and broke it. Luckily it is one we have recorded & transcribed.
It is expected that the Council will dispose of the pieces of gravestone thereby another one lost, which makes our Project all the more important.
Sadly our lovely Holly Tree has received a severe pruning that only a stump is left.
We are grateful to receive any information - photo's, documents or cards to help us with the website & project
if you would like to send us details please contact us via our contact page
With Grateful Thanks for their kind permission
to use images from their websites;
Manchester Libraries
Britain From Above
and to everyone who has given their consent for us to use and display their information and photographs on our website
We have made every effect to
ensure that the information contained within the
Manchester General Cemetery
Project Website
is accurate and correct, however we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Should you see anything which you believe to be incorrect or inaccurate, we would be pleased if you would let us know.
Visitors to MGCTP
Disclaimer;
We have tried our best to give credit for articles and photographs, where applicable,
but if anyone has any issues please get intouch and we will take a look and remove where necessary.