Plans for establishing a Public Burial Ground to be called Manchester General Cemetery first appear in newspaper.

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The Manchester Guardian reported that shares in the new Manchester General Cemetery were being quickly taken up and that advertisements were soon to be placed for a suitable plot of land;

Provisional General Meeting of present shareholders;

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Plans were announced for the establishment of a public burial ground to be known as Manchester General Cemetery, in response to the planned removal of burial grounds away from large and densely populated areas due to health considerations and the need for Manchester to have a public burial ground to match the importance and wealth of the City;

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Advertising for owners of land in Manchester to send in offers of Sale, stating quantity, price and other particulars of land;

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Meeting of the subscribers Committee voted in 12 of its subscribers to inspect land, quantity and price proposed for the cemetery. Chairman leaves the chair, new chairman William Deakin; 

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A meeting of Proprietors of the Cemetery to ratify and confirm with committee and proprietor of land to purchase said land.  17 Gentlemen are appointed for committee management for 12 months and five form a quorum.  Mr W C Chew is appointed Solicitor, William Chantler appointed President James Frost vice president

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The Committee of Manchester General Cemetery announced the issue of shares was to take place on May 2nd and 3rd 1836 upon production of the original receipt for the deposit money.  Any shares not collected and paid for by 4.00 p.m. on 3rd May 1836 would be deemed to be forfeited

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The Incorporation of the Trustees of Manchester General Cemetery who identified and purchased a site of 12 acres of irregular form to the north of Manchester city Centre, adjacent to Hendham Hall from Mr Jonathan Andrew Esq.,

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Committee Advertise for Stone Masons & builders to enter into contracts for erection of Chapel, Registrars House and Entrances, Lodge & entrance on Smedley Road

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Advertisement for land to be let to build a road from Rochdale Road to Smedley adjoining Manchester General Cemetery

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An open design competition was won by Doncaster architect,  William Lambie Moffat(t), for the design of entrance buildings comprising: a large carriage entrance, pedestrian entrances, a non-conformist mortuary chapel,  with 13 vaults built beneath (never used), a registrar's house and administration offices all to be constructed in a neo-classical style

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The Trustees of Manchester General Cemetery advertised for a Clerk of Works to superintend the buildings and the laying out of the grounds

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Advertisement for Registrar to perform burials services, keep burial records and entries, superintend the grounds and premises

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General Extraordinary Meeting of Shareholders

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Notices appear in the Manchester Guardian giving the public notice that the Cemetery will open for internments on the 1st September 1837

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First Burial Took place, that of a still born child

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Formal opening of Manchester General Cemetery by Mrs Walker of Whitehouses, Collyhurst

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The first burial, after official opening took place of nine year old Marion Segate Watt

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Buildings for the Cemetery now completed

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General advertisement placed by Registrar, Jonathan Wood, inviting applications for the purchase graves and vaults now the “splendid buildings and tastefully laid out grounds” were nearing completion

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Committee announce that the Cemetery Buildings and grounds are now completed

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Announcement of date of next Extraordinary Meeting for Proprietors;

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Extraordinary Meeting for Proprietors to discussion of setting a part of the Cemetery aside for the exclusive use of the Jewish persuasion

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Annual General Meeting of shareholders for purpose of electing committee, other officers and servants necessary for the coming year.  A report for the committee to be sanctioned and receiving for the year just ended.

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The Trustees of Manchester General Cemetery advertised for a Sexton

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Meeting of Shareholders resolved to portioned a section of land to be consecrated.  Clergy of Colligate Church and Bishop of Chester have expressed their approval.

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The Manchester General Cemetery Company donated £15.00 towards the cost of solving the problem of the stagnant pool of water located at the boundary of the Cemetery with the Queens Park.  Plans considered included either to convert the pool into an ornamental pond or remove it completely

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Main sewer between the Park and Cemetery has now been completed. Correspondence between the Manchester Genera Cemetery and Hendham Hall Park work was completed on the pond between the properties at a cost of £70.00 and the Cemetery Company declined to pay their contributed as promised (£15.00)

Annual General Meeting of Shareholders for purpose of electing  committee, other officers and servants necessary for the coming year.  A report for the committee to be sanctioned and receiving for the year just ended.  A dividend of three shillings and sixpence on each share declared;

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Advertisement placed in Manchester guardian for a £1 reward for the return of two lost scrips  of 5 shares each, in the Manchester General Cemetery in the name of Richard Hartley

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Proprietors to receive a further dividend of 2 shillings and sixpence  per share.

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Legal notice issued stating the intention of the Manchester General Cemetery Company to set aside an area exclusively for Church of England burials and said land decided on and set aside.

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Manchester General Cemetery and the Board of guardians enter into a contact for the internments of persons from several workhouses in their jurisdiction for 12 months.   Agreed prices:  Adults & others 4s. each / Children above 2 yrs & under 10yrs 3d. 6I. /2yrs & under 1s. 6I.

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Extraordinary General Meeting for submitting an approval draft of a proposed bill of application made to parliament for power to set aside portion of Cemetery Ground for Church of England with a Chapel and to authorise committee necessary powers to do such.

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Following the closure of the burial ground at Walker’s Croft, the Manchester Board of Guardians entered into an agreement with Manchester General Cemetery for the burial of paupers chargeable to the Manchester Union;

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At a meeting of the Manchester Guardians, Mr G Newton, the Chairman and Mr Chew provided a plan of a proposed plot of land (one consecrated and the other unconsecrated to meet conscientious scruples of persons.) at a rate yet to be fixed for the interment of those who die under the controls of the Manchester Guardians. Board of Guardians took the plot of land and can terminate their occupancy of it at any time.

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Mr Gibson & Mr Bright brought and presented the bill to parliament proposed by Manchester General Cemetery to secure consecration of a portion of land. Not all trustees are in agreement about having part of the Cemetery consecrated which held up decision as

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Proposed Bill for Consecration of land in Manchester General Cemetery read and agreed to in the House of Commons three times and passed.

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Passed bill goes before a committee of the Lords, but as one of a group it is low on the list and not likely to be proceeded with that day.

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Bill for the consecration of the Cemetery was heard on its merits before a select committee of the House of Lords and passed without alteration, not withstanding a strenuous opposition from a few shareholders. It will be read in a few days for a third time and passed into law.

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At the House of Lords Royal Assent was given by commission to the Private Bill of consecrating a portion of land in the Cemetery for use by the Church of England. Parliament requires that a Chapel be built within two years of consecrating.

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Advertisement of Cemetery and current prices for graves & vaults etc.,

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Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend James Prince Lee, visited the Cemetery for the purpose of inspecting the grounds, and consecrated 23,000 yards in the North West Section for the Church of England burials. The Bishop was accompanied by the Dean, his secretary John Burder Esq., members of the committee, the Chairman and Mr Bell the surveyor.

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Burial of Kate Sweeting, aged 18 months, the first Church of England burial;

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Notice in Manchester guardian of latest charges and costs for Non Conformist and Consecrated Graves, Vaults etc.,

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Rev. John Hayes, Incumbent of Harpurhey to be the Chaplain to the Manchester General Cemetery Company. 

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John Bolton Rogerson, Registrar of Manchester General Cemetery published his “Poetical Works”;

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It was reported that the 'poor' had and were being buried in 'pits' about 11 feet deep in Manchester General Cemetery 

Advertisement from the Committee resolved to receive tenders for the purchase of the Cemetery Grass

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Advertisement from the Committee wish to enter into a contact for the supply of Gravestone for twelve months - stones must be of polished, squared and good quality.

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An Order from Council had been issued that only one body per grave can take place, the Board of Guardians were informed that the cost of 'pauper' burials would increase by three times the current cost varied from 4s.  6d. to 7s. for each internment.

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484 pauper burials took place of persons from the Manchester Union Workhouse at a total cost to the Board of Guardians of £74 13s 6d.  Pauper burials were charged at 1 shilling less than burials of poor persons who were able to pay their own dues;

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Demolition of 62 catacombs (never used) in the western part of the cemetery and the pond drained and levelled to provide additional burial space

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'Strangers Vault' was to be provided, but there is no mention of it again in records.

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Rev Charles A Marshall MA appointed by the Bishop of Manchester to the chaplaincy of Manchester General Cemetery;

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Advertisement for a Sexton

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Manchester General Cemetery notified that they would have to adhere to Burial Regulations that came into effect a couple of years previously in regards to public health:

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Registrar, John Bolton Rogerson, published a further volume entitled “Flowers for All Seasons”

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Advertisement for Cemetery and latest dues and all charges for burials, Graves & Vaults

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Advertisement for Tenders for 12 months to supply Vault and Gravestones 6ft by 3ft, 3½ inches thick. Vault stones 7ft by 3 ft 3 ins: & 6ft 6ins. by 3ft 6 ins, 4ins. thick in the rough, laid down at Cemetery.

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At the annual meeting of the proprietors it was agreed to build a New Chapel in Church ground. 

Tenders requested by Manchester General Cemetery for the supply of polished gravestones and vault stones;

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Laying of new corner stone of the new chapel, known as St James' Chapel, on consecrated ground by the Lord Bishop of Manchester. Rev. Charles Marshall, M.A. rector of Cemetery offered up a special prayer. The Chapel of a neut structure of Pierpoint & stone dressings, 43ft by 25ft. Accommodating 112 persons, a tower & spire abt 60ft high at the south west angle and costing nearly £700. The Committee commissioned Mr William Newby, Architect to design Chapel. Cemetery Committee Chairman Mr William Crippen presents the Lord Bishop a handsome silver trowel with appropriate inscription.

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Advertisement for Sexton appears in Manchester Guardian

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Inquiry held into the removal of pauper burials from a grave and their re-interment into a drain following an anonymous allegation contained in a letter to the Manchester Guardian;

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James Fielding was appointed Registrar of Manchester General Cemetery, a position he held for 31 years;

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Construction of six workmen's cottages on land adjoining Boardman Street;

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The Committee are prepared to accept tenders for the painting, staining, colouring etc., of the Cemetery Chapel.   Mr William Newby, Architect will show specifications and give particulars for work to be done.

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St. James's Chapel for the Church of England services is opened.

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The Bishop of Manchester appointed Rev John Leighton Figgins to the chaplaincy  of Manchester General Cemetery following the resignation of Rev Charles Marshall;

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Concern was expressed by the residents of Manchester about the possible lack of burial space in the City due to the closure of various burial grounds.  Manchester General Cemetery Registrar, James Fielding, sought to allay these concerns by stating there was sufficient burial space within Manchester General Cemetery for the annual interment of 13,665 bodies over the next 14 years or in aggregate over that time for the interment of 191,310 persons;

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Burials to be discontinued under the New burials and public health act come into force. 

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Board of Guardians agree to increases in costs of internments for paupers at the Cemetery due to the Council order restrictions. Minutes of meeting in the newspaper show the 3 prices increases from Cemetery Committee, and the new list of costs:  single internments for paupers and one in a grave only:-

Still born children ....3s.    Under 5yrs of age ....10s.     Under 10yrs of age ....15s. Adults....£1.

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Manchester Guardians decide at the weekly meeting to stop all burials for paupers at Manchester General Cemetery to cease due to cost being excessive, and burials can be performed elsewhere for less

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Advertisement for City of Manchester Funeral Furnishing Company state they are agents for Harpurhey Cemetery "Funerals of every class furnished with first rate equipment." Orders received for Vaults, Family Graves, or single interments. 

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Meeting with Board of Guardians the Cemetery Committee enquired as to why they allowed no burials in the Cemetery when the costs were now lower than elsewhere?

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A silver tea and coffee service was presented to Mr W Crippin, Chairman of the Harpurhey Cemetery Company by the shareholders in recognition of his punctuality, business talents and impartiality over the last 13 years;

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Monument to the Taylor Children placed on grave.

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Advert for 'The Strangeways Tragedy' a view of the Monument to the Memory of the Taylor Children

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Burial took place of Sgt Brett, first Policeman in Manchester to be killed on duty.

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Tenants turned out of Workers Cottages on Boardman St, never occupied again.

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The burial of Hannah Beswick, the Manchester Mummy, 110 years after her death;

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Allegations made by a Mr J Shawcross through the letters page of the Manchester Guardian that gravestones were being removed from graves and re-positioned elsewhere in the Cemetery; Registrar James Fielding assured that these stones were pauper stones and placed between two burial plots.

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Negotiations opened with Manchester Corporation regarding the sale of the cemetery however they declined to bid;

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Bishop of Manchester licensed Rev. David Ellison to chaplain the consecrated portion at Cemetery in place of Rev. John Taylor deceased.

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Demolition of workmen's cottages built in 1855, now used as Company's Stone Yard.

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Registrar James Fielding died, Aged 81years he had been Registrar of the Cemetery for 31 years.

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Reverend Thomas Grant was appointed Registrar of Manchester General Cemetery, a position he held until his death in 1909;

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Manchester Society of Architects students competition award Mr R. G. Beard of 3 guineas for measured drawings of the Manchester General Cemetery Buildings.

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Concerns rose as No Chaplain has been appointed since Rev. David Ellison vacated the position of Chaplain to the Cemetery. Registrar is officiating both Church & Dissenter grounds and friends of deceased request their own clergy man may inter. 

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Rev. Fergus Hill, appointed chaplain of the Cemetery

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Manchester Corporation invited tenders for the erection of a public urinal;

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Rev.Thomas Grant Registrar of the Cemetery for 18 years died, Aged 74 years .

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Advertisement placed for the position of Resident Registrar placed.  Preferred applicants would be over the aged of 45, married and a clergyman or minister.  The salary offered was £100.00 per annum with house, coal and gas

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William Arthur Deighton wrote notes for a book for the Committee, shareholders and persons interested in the Institution on The Manchester General Cemetery.

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Advertisement for Grave digger, fully qualified wanted for the Cemetery, permanent position for steady reliable man

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An Extra-ordinary meeting was held Wednesday 28th April to consider three resolutions of voluntarily wounding up the Manchester General Cemetery Company Ltd., 

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A Second Extra-ordinary meeting is held after all the proprietors have discussed and made a decision in passing the three resolutions of voluntarily wounding up the Company.

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Manchester Corporation takes over the running of Manchester General Cemetery;

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Manchester Corporation acquired the Manchester General Cemetery Ltd., under the open spaces act 1906.  Minister of housing and local government have been asked to take steps to make an order to prevent further burials except for the site of the former Church of England Chapel.

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Demolition of all buildings in Manchester General Cemetery.

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Herbert Morton completes the latest batch of 1,150 gravestone transcriptions from the Church Public section of the Cemetery.  Retired historian, Mr Morton, works of behalf of Manchester Corporation writing out by hand the inscriptions at a rate of 30-60 per day.  

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Tenders invited by Manchester City Council for the repairs and partial rebuilding of the brick boundary wall at Manchester General Cemetery;

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Ownership and management of Manchester General Cemetery passed to Manchester City Council

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Manchester Corporation Parks Department proposed a four year plan to transform Manchester General Cemetery into a lawn style burial ground with the 10 acre site eventually becoming an extension of Queens Park - thankfully this plan did not come to fruition;

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Demolition of all buildings on the site of Manchester General Cemetery plus fencing of the western end of cemetery

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TV Soap Coronation Street filmed the burial of TV Character Martha Longhurst in the Manchester General Cemetery, a special grave was dug for the filming.

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Inaugural groundwork day of the Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project

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175th Anniversary of the Opening of Manchester General Cemetery

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180th Anniversary of the Opening of Manchester General Cemetery

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150th Anniversary of the Death of Sgt Charles BRETT, first Policeman in Manchester to be killed on Duty

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Commemorating the 1914-1918 Centenary, Manchester General Cemetery Transcription Project marked the event by placing a list of WW1 Servicemen who are named on a Family Gravestone or a CWGC Gravestone on the main gates on Rochdale Road with a Remembrance Poppy Reef.

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BBC Radio 4 programme by Testament on the 'Bard of Colour' poet Robert Rose, featured our own Team Member 'Jeanne'