Graves

Anyone know when the cemeteries at Wigan were first used, can only find burials from 1856

Hi Christine. The first cemetery burials in Wigan, as you say were in 1856. Before the concept of non denomination burial grounds, people were buried in church graveyards, in the church grounds of their own faith. I believe it was mostly on public health grounds that there was a move to "out of town" sites, as churches were normally sited within communities. Also the churchyards were running out of space. The first cemetery in Liverpool was in 1825 and Manchester in 1821, which is consistent with Wigan in 1856. So if you are looking for earlier burials than 1856 in Wigan you need to search graveyards, rather than cemeteries.

During the 19th century amenities in Wigan improved. From 1823 Wigan had gas light. From 1848 Wigan was connected to Manchester and Liverpool by railway. In 1856 a cemetery opened and in 1873 Wigan Infirmary opened.

A new Town Hall was built in 1867 and a Market Hall was built in 1877. Mesnes Park opened in 1878. The same year a public library opened in Wigan.

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Hello Jazzy

Hi Priscus, how are you?

Burials were at all saints, didn't know they had a graveyard there

They appear to have. Check this.

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Apparently all the gravestones were removed. Found this info on an old WW post. HTH.

The burials are still in the area around Wigan All Saints no exhuming took place, although there are no longer headstones to represent the graves apart from a few that still remain close to the church. Inscriptions on every stone was copied and a record of 308 graves was carefully prepared and completed in 1906.In pursuance of the Open Spaces Act 1905, notice was given in July 1909, of the intention of the Corporation to apply for a faculty, and in August 1909 copies of the notice were sent by registered post to those persons known to be next relatives of any one whose name was on the stones.The last burial took place in the churchyard in 1904 and by order in Council dated 11th July 1905, the churchyard was closed for burials.It was apparently in a desolate and shocking condition and in 1909, under a special agreement between the Rector and Wigan Corporation, the latter undertook to lay out the churchyard as a garden and to take over the responsibility for maintaining it. Though it still remains the property of the Church and is under the jurisdiction of the Church authorities. With a few exceptions, the old gravestones were buried, the churchyard was re-laid and in 1911 was opened as a garden".

Thanks for that, there must have been hundreds buried there .

Very interesting Post My past family members where all buried within All Saints Parish Church of Hindley , Graveyard , the first burials dating back to 1642 . When the graveyard became full , Hindley Cemetery came into being . Sadly most of the Gravestones at All Saints , Hindley had to be removed due to their dangerous state .

interesting information there jazzy. Well done!

Chris, on an earlier post on this site, it mentions that the History Shop (now Museum of life) have a book of the headstone inscriptions , though not all graves would have had a headstone, might be worth a visit.

wigan world


I also found list on Find a Grave mentioning 322 named memorials at All Saints, which may confirm your relative is there. Scroll through the list there are a few pictures of headstones there. Hope you find the one your looking for.


Find a Grave

Jazzy welcome back

Hello Jazzy, glad to see you posting

Hi PeterP and Jo Anne, I do pop on now and again, it's always good to see what everyone is up to, although some things never change.