Your donation will release extra funding
To provide accessibility across this magnificent site, from neglect and the impact of climate change with volunteer and community support.
by Frances Barker in Pudsey, England, United Kingdom
From a Dead Space to a Living Place - Our Story
Spring 2024, our autumn bulbs in full bloom.
The Farsley Rehoboth Baptist Burial Ground was a place of interment from 1785 to 2000 and reflected the growth of Farsley and in particular its textile industry with many prominent residents buried there.
In total there are circa 4,000 local people interred in the Rehoboth, all with their own histories and contribution to the growth and history of Farsley. All are now detailed on our online database together with a wealth of family information, accessible through our website (www.farsleyrehoboth.org).
Our Registered Charity, (Number 1182468) was established in March 2019 to purchase, reclaim and maintain this historic ground and make accessible as a community asset.
Our work commenced with the purchase of the Rehoboth on 31st May 2019, following the bankruptcy of a housing developer who was the current owner.
For many years there had been no access for relatives to visit graves without trespass, the neglect of the Burial Ground had been considerable. The only entrance on Coal Hill Lane was padlocked and inaccessible.
The Rehoboth before our work started in 2019.
This was the only registered Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in the UK with no right to access to honour Remembrance, until our service on 11th November 2019. This initial service has been held every Armistice Day with support and participation from the Lord Lieutenancy of West Yorkshire and a local primary school.
Community Cohesion:
We have discovered our ninth Official War Grave within the last 10 months. The grave is that of Sapper Joseph Shepherd, aged 19, who died on 14th January 1940. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ratified our findings and removed his status as “Missing” and supplied a new white Portland stone headstone.
This was dedicated in a service on 16th August 2024 with his daughter (Joyce aged 85 years) in attendance. Joyce was six months old at the time of her father’s death and had only known he was “Missing” in World War Two. They were reunited with Joyce selecting the personal inscription, “Always in My Heart” which is inscribed on her father’s headstone.
16th August 2024, dedicating our new Official War Grave, with the soldier’s daughter and granddaughter present.
The project is a focal point for the whole community with heritage and history promoted and made accessible across the community including local groups and businesses..
We have installed renewable electric power, and in summer 2024 increased the supply by 150 additional metres with the infrastructure connected to the National Grid. All the work within our walls is undertaken by proficient qualified volunteers.
A major landmark was the completion of the rebuilding and external pointing of our 150 year old walls – a quarter of a mile of stone which was restored in late 2022, with an additional section uncovered and rebuilt in winter 2024.
February 2024, finishing rebuilding 150 year old walls, followed by construction of access paths and water run-offs.
Our publications include a Visitor’s Guide and Map, fully indexed guides to graves with a separate Inscription Book, as well as a printed booklet documenting our 100 on-site trees, (our oldest is 140 years old). Your suport will enable the production and distribution of additional copies of all of our publications.
Working Together:
In the past two years, accessibility and preservation of our ecology have become prominent. Your support in 2023 enabled our building of dual water run-offs, combined with all-weather accessible paths, a total of 14 have now been installed covering several hundred metres. This support will add additional safety features and ensure resilience as we continue to deal with the effects of climate change.
In the past two years, accessibility and preservation of our ecology have become prominent. Your support in 2023 our building of dual water run-offs, combined with all-weather accessible paths, a total of 14 have now been installed covering several hundred metres. Your support will add additional safety features and ensure resilience as we continue to deal with the effects of climate change.
Our wildlife focus now includes a hedgehog rehoming centre within our grounds, bat boxes and surveys plus a growth in nesting (and returning birds). We have sown and grown three new wildflower meadows.
January 2024 frost followed by spring bringing a new arrival, “Patience”.
We are seeking your support to extend our re-homing area, provide additional bird and bat nesting facilities as well as hedgehog homes.
Much of the priority work programme in the Rehoboth is governed by the topography and nature of a two acre site, stretching back 240 years. The site has a magnificent spread of trees; it is steep with an elevation of circa 150 feet with a soil covering of clay, which is like porridge when wet and concrete when dry.
Our network of paths/water run-offs have greatly assisted in stabilising the ground, whilst our long term grave rebuilding programme reflects dignity for those interred and peace for relatives and visitors.
This summer we discovered this summer that underneath our steep western facing bank of ivy (about half an acre), the Victorian landscaping used in the 1870’s as a base for the terracing cinder and ashes from the many local textile mills, with the clay top covering on top.
Our wall of ivy, new wildflower meadow and planting for next year.
There is no retaining wall or structure for this bank. Advised by our expert volunteer horticulturists, we are seeking to stabilise this area by planting resilient plants; Yellow Rattle, Bugle, Wild Ginger, Lungwort and Dead Nettle are amongst a selection proposed.
This planting strategy will also add resilience to our new ashes plots (at the top of the bank), and support our bird and insect life.
Our project will continue to promote the reclamation and preservation of the natural environment, improve safety for visitors and relatives as we offer enhanced access combined with a safe environment within this ecological wonderland.
September 2024, the view from our new visitors path.
The local community will continue to benefit from your funding as it will contribute and deliver a solus project, as an overall part of the greater reclamation of Farsley Rehoboth Burial Ground, as a public open space and community asset.
We continue to receive support from David Attenborough’s Wild Isles Trust and have been appointed as one of their case studies for our work in combatting climate change,
We have 153 inducted volunteers, active support and assistance from community groups including Corporate Charity Days.
August 2024, a quick break from the summer rain, then back to work.
Total volunteer hours to date, from June 2019 to October 2024 are more than 34,000. All Officers, Trustees and volunteers are unpaid.
Our work sessions are a minimum of three days a week when we are fully active with our restoration programme. We encourage and advocate the benefits of volunteering for the promotion of physical and mental health wellbeing.
September 2024, the setting sun reflecting off our newly installed engraved memorial plaques.
Thank you from Rehoboth Fox.
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