News in 2025
December 2025
A question of Brockhall's history
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As part of the recent research into the history of burials and the Cemetery's historic contact with the adjoining St. Leonard's Church, questions have been raised as to where deceased residents of Brockhall might have been buried prior to the opening of the Brockhall Cemetery in September 1939. The Brockhall Institute first opened in 1904 as a reformatory for "inebriates" and later began to accommodate people who were said to have intellectual disabilities. Prior to 1933, Brockhall functioned as part of the Calderstones Institute under the controversial Dr Gill. It is possible that between 1916 and 1939, the deceased residents of Brockhall may have been buried in the Calderstones Cemetery, or possibly St Leonard's, but we are not sure and would welcome any information or suggestions which local historians, members of the St Leonard's congregation or former hospital staff might be able to provide.
The Friends objection to the Faculty application.
The Friends objection to the faculty application which was submitted to the Dioceses is currently being considered alongside the Owner's application by the Chancellor of the Blackburn Diocese. We had hoped that there would have been some significant progress November but unfortunately that has not been achieved and we now await further directions from the Registrar and Chancellor as to the next steps which may be required.
On the 17th December the first stage of the Chancellor's consideration took place via an internet conference meeting. The Chancellor set out his clear expectations of both parties and deadlines for the staged responses which he expects to receive from each party.
The Archdeacon's report
For several months we had hoped to publish the Archdeacon's report which records the involvement of Mark Ireland, the former Archdeacon of the Blackburn Diocese in promoting the development of a crematorium on the site of the Calderstones Cemetery. While other matters relating to the Cemetery are being considered by the Diocese, it might seem to be an inappropriate time to publish the report and for that reason, it will be deferred further.
However, while the report has been known and distributed to the relevant named individuals and organisations, as the Archdeacon's report, it will in future have to be referred to as the Former Archdeacon's report, as Reverend Jane Atkinson has now taken up her post as the new Archdeacon of the Blackburn Diocese and the Friends look forward to meeting her in due course.
The Timed and Dated photos
The photos and information provided in last month's news article are believed to be accurate, but inevitably, it is always possible that there may have been some factual error in the presentation of such a large amount of information, in which case, we would invite members or other readers to identify any errors in the details and suggest an appropriate correction. Once checked and confirmed , we are committed to acknowledging mistakes and amending those details immediately, as we have done in the past.
Brockhall Cemetery developments
Reece Robinson has established contact with representatives of St Leonard's Church, Old Langho and subsequently with a contact at the Diocese who has oversight of church land and cemeteries. Reece is trying to establish the links in the history of the two adjoining cemeteries, with details of the agreements which may have been made in the past as well as any relevant current liabilities and maintenance arrangements. Pamela Haralambos has made good progress in considering the various methods of ownership including charitable trusts and community interest companies which might be most appropriate for us to consider in the future, David Pinder has been reviewing the history of the Land Registry title for the Cemetery and checking that against old maps of the local area and the Hospital site, David Fitzpatrick has been in contact with the RC Diocesan Archivist from Salford Diocese and we look forward to receiving information about any contact that Diocese has had in respect of the deceased catholic people buried in the Cemetery. The contact cards left near the site of graves in the Cemetery have produced results and we now have relatives of two further people who are buried in the Cemetery. Welcome to Julie and Katie
We have recently had further contact from relatives of different people who are buried in the Brockhall Cemetery. Linda and Ryan will now be following news via the website and want to be kept in touch with any developments in the ongoing discussions with the representatives of the current owners.
Early Brockhall Photo
Nigel Ingham has provided us with a very early photo of the Brockhall site which some members may have seen previously. We do not have a date for the photo and believe it to be mid to late 30's but would welcome any further information on the timing. The newly established Hospital cemetery can be seen at the bottom of the photo, which with computer enhancement provides a revealing record of the original layout and division of the religious groupings. The external and internal boundary fences are interesting.
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November 2025
THE REVEALING PHOTOS
Timed and dated photos
Recently, the Friends received a series of photographs from a former neighbour of the cemetery who had been annoyed at the activities taking place within the cemetery in late 2017 and early 2018, when his access the site was severely restricted. He had been told different and contradictory stories by the contractors and owners, but had genuinely believed that while negotiations about the status of the cemetery were ongoing, the only works which would be taking place would be the paths and landscaping in the uncontroversial woodland area. What he was to discover was quite different. Most of these photos have never been seen before, but what had been missed by the photographer is that each is timed and dated so that we can demonstrate with certainty, the factual situation in the locations which have been covered at a point during, and shortly after what was said to be he accidental breach of the owner's strict instructions not to carry out any works in the Cemetery area.
Of particular concern is the substantial amount of excavations and ground works which had already taken place around both the Northern and Southern Gardens of Remembrance, the land was then subsequently levelled and tidied up, to leave a seemingly even surface with no obvious surviving record of those excavations and ground works. These photos now provide that record and it would be helpful if the former owner and employees of BORI Ltd who now own or are maybe employed by Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd, to explain why these excavations took place, what was discovered, what was taken out, what was replaced and why? Surveying an already substantially excavated site might appear counter-intuitive as you may only reveal what you might be expected to already know.
On separate occasions, while still refusing to answer the questions in the "Nine points document," Mr Ron Dunn, now employed by Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd, has claimed that he dug into the Garden of Remembrance and took photos of the urns containing human remains which he discovered there, and crucially, that he had the approval of the Diocese to do so. That claim was last made at a meeting with the the then Assistant Archdeacon, the Reverend Grant Ashton on 1.6.2024. Subsequent requests from the Friends to the Assistant Archdeacon, the then Archdeacon, Mark Ireland, and Bishop Philip to confirm or reject this claim have been neither acknowledged nor answered.
If it is possible, further enquiries will be made with SUMO, the company which we believe was commissioned by BORI/RPC to carry out the often misquoted GPR survey, to establish what information if any, they had been given about these excavations, the discoveries which might have been made, extractions which had taken place and any replacements or alterations which may have been installed. We cannot be certain, but believe that neither SUMO, nor the Archaeologist, Peter Isles, had been given this information. It will be especially helpful to learn how the survey team were directed to a specific site in the post- excavated area, measuring only 5x5 metres, rather than based on the only available photographic evidence, where a minimum 10x10 metre plot would have been suggested by the Friends,
The photos are presented in date order so members and readers can see the extent and multiple locations in which work had taken place, all of which had apparently been done without faculty approval, because despite the available records, within the hospital sale records and the Diocese, the owners were apparently unaware that this was consecrated land, before he 11th January 2018. You will also see the changes which took place during a period of approximately 11 weeks between the first and last photos, other unrecorded changes may have occurred later
A copy of the "Nine points document," appears below. This important request for information was written by the Friends in the summer of 2018, shortly after the extent of the owners unauthorised, and illegal (without faculty) works had been revealed. At that time, a copy was sent to the owners and Mark Ireland, the then Archdeacon of the Blackburn Diocese, and on multiple occasions since, but it has never been answered. On the 11th November 2018 a copy was sent for the first time to Mr N Gerard, the current co-owner of Remembrance Park Construction Ltd, in his capacity as a then co-owner of Buildings of Remembrance International Ltd. Like Mark Ireland, he neither acknowledged nor answered that respectful request for that information, as he has done, ever since.
Having seen the new evidence, members and readers will form their own opinions on the significance of the nine questions and the helpful assistance which could have been so easily provided, while considering the possible reasons for the consistent failure of the owners and the Blackburn Diocese to answer what are in fact, very simple and factual questions.
We would welcome any further photos which neighbours or readers may have taken during the year, November 2017 to November 2018, especially if they can be dated. People employed by the contractors, may also have photos from this time
The nine points document
John Newton's grave
The grave is completely covered submerged and hidden from view by gravel, which has presumably been laid as the foundation for the roadways. A grave in consecrated ground has been entirely hidden by contractors and owners who claimed that they did not know it was consecrated ground and contrary to the expectations of any purchaser, had not obtained detailed copies of the layout of the Cemetery in which the locations of all the graves were identified. Please note the substantial amount of flexible drainage piping. Where was this installed?
John Newton's grave
This is the site of John Newton's grave, John a former carter employed at the Hospital was buried at the extreme south-west end of the cemetery parallel with the C of E Chapel. In late 2017. his grave was badly damaged and covered in gravel chippings, by contractors who were apparently unaware of its existence. The then Manager of BORI Ltd, Angela Dunn apologised for the inexcusable damage and promised that the grave would be marked off as per photo, and protected thereafter. For whatever reason, those good intentions have not been honoured, and the grave remained unidentifiable before being buried under huge logs which were stored there, but have since been moved.
John Newton's Grave
This interesting photo shows the site of John's grave submerged and hidden below the gravel of the roadways, at the side of the Lych-gate and C of E Chapel. The treatment of John's grave before this photo was taken, and afterwards, once the dreadful mistake was acknowledged by the owners and contractors, is perhaps an unwelcome indication of how we might expect other graves to have been treated in the future.
Looking North
A revealing photo, looking across the front of the Southern GOR to the Northern GOR. The cross roadway has disappeared under a seemingly levelled- off site with what appears to be a line of edging curb running north to south. The excavations in the Southern GOR are no longer evident and the line of the edging towards the central path is confusing.
Looking East
This particularly revealing photo provides a wealth of information and raises questions which have not been asked before. The large mound of excavated soil immediately right of the dumper wheel is, we believe, the site of the Southern GOR. - Why would that area have been excavated? The areas of spread gravel repeat the questions about drainage, but the depth of excavation relative to the levels of the edging curbstones seems to contradict the claims made in the Archdeacon's submissions. Finally, in the far distance, there is an inexplicable line of warning tape, in an area of the known C of E graves. Why?
George Eastwood
This photo of the grave of George Eastwood had not been seen before and is one of the most revealing in this collection. We have no idea why there should have been any digging or interference with this grave and do not understand the presence of the large stones which have been excavated. Looking towards the chapels there are two separate areas of unexplained excavations and the level of the extensive and current mound of spoil and soil looks strangely flattened.
The Northern GOR
The foundation for the roadway has been laid across the bottom of the photo. The area of the Northern GOR has been preliminarily levelled but the potential damage to any urns containing human remains previously interred under this area would be obvious. We are not aware of any items which the contractor may have found during this work, but the earthenware and pottery discoveries made by Douglas and Michelle were both very close to this area.
Unexplained
This photo taken from beyond the former turning circle looks westward along the central path towards the Lych-gate. The areas of the Northern GOR has been levelled-off but there is a significant excavation of earth immediately west of the circle which has only recently been identified, which we believe is part of the Southern GOR. We have no explanation for that excavation, or the one on the left opposite a large and regular shaped stone
The Northern GOR
With the taped-off area of the Booth Hall babies graves to the left, the damage to the area of the Northern GOR is obvious. Please note the area in which the yellow dumper vehicle is parked. This is the area in which Douglas and Michelle Simmonds were to separately discover shards of glass, pottery and earthenware
Tidying -up!
In this photo, taken from behind the excavated area of what is believed to be the Southern GOR. The white tent and trees are no longer to be seen but the extent of the reparation and levelling of the ground in the south-west quadrant is evident. There are obvious signs of the significant excavations which have taken place in the area of the GOR and the excavated soil in the foreground would also be levelled shortly afterwards Parts of this excavated, re-filled and subsequently levelled land would later be subject to a high density GPR the performance and conclusions of which, will be reviewed later
Looking South
An interesting view where the roadway has now been widened and is covered in grit. The whole area has been roughly levelled, the present day mound does not exist, and the location of the excavations are now obscure. This photo might help to jog memories and explain the repeated failures of the owners to answer questions about the drainage and macerator which we were told had not been installed.
Looking North
This is an early photo of activity within the Cemetery which was was taking place while discussions about its consecrated status and the location of the Southern Garden of Remembrance were happening, and at a time when objectors were being told that only landscaping works in the woodland area outside the Cemetery were being completed.
The trees
Several large fir trees were placed on the ground in the area immediately in front and to the side of the C of E chapel. As far as we are aware, these trees were never planted and seem to have disappeared. They may have been disposed of, in the mound of spoil which has been dumped in the south-west quadrant of the Cemetery and which grew significantly during this period.
Please note the large mound of soil, back right, which had been excavated from the SW quadrant at this time
The white tent 1
The white tent was something of a mystery, when it was placed on top of the graves of the Booth Hall babies in the C of E section, and surrounded by tape, similar to the RC section on the other side of the central pathway. The tent was only on site for a few weeks but we still do not know its purpose. Please note the large roll of flexible drainage pipe to the left of the Lych -gate which may be of interest when compared with later photos. The past and current owners have consistently refused to answer the question about drainage, first raised in the "Nine points document"
The white tent 2
Looking towards the RC chapel and the taped off coverage of the Booth Hall babies graves. The area looks relatively undisturbed with a single tyre track crossing the site of the graves on the C of E side of the central path. The tent's location may be coincidental, it could have been placed anywhere on the then undisturbed flat ground of the Cemetery, but it is located at perhaps the closest point to the location of the Southern Garden of Remembrance.
The white tent 3
This front -on photo of the tent erected on the site of the Booth Hall babies graves immediately in front of the C of E chapel, gives a good indication of its size, and location, but its purpose remains a mystery. It was there for a relatively short period in winter weather and the only explanation we received from Angela Dunn at BORI, was that it had been temporarily placed in that position at the request of one of the owners for a religious service. It was assumed, but never confirmed that the owner referred to. was a Mr Sundeep (Sandy) Gohil, who we believe was also connected to the contractors.
The Southern GOR
This photo taken three days after all work on the Cemetery had supposedly ceased, following the confirmation of its consecrated status. It's a revealing and disturbing photo, looking east, in which the depth of the excavation in the first of three sites which were suggested as being the location of the Southern Garden of Remembrance is evident. Please note the position of the partially exposed drainage pipe which appears to be of flexible material. We believe that this location may be the area in which the GPR survey commissioned by the then owners took place. We do not know who was responsible for these excavations and what items, if any, were discovered during these substantial interventions into what had previously been settled land.
The Northern GOR
This photo was taken on the 14th January 2018, three days after the consecrated status of the Cemetery had been confirmed to Angela Dunn and BORI Ltd. The history and exact location of this part of the Cemetery may not have ben known to the contractors at the time, but the potential impact of those excavations on any urns containing human remains in this area would be obvious
Excavations
An interesting photo taken near the grave of John Newton which shows the depth which was excavated and then back-filled with spoil and gravel to form the base of the intended roadways. Readers will form their own opinions on the potential damage/destruction which might be caused to urns containing human remains which were interred in the construction of similar roadways in front of both chapels. The owners and contractors have never confirmed that the remnants of any urns were discovered
The three excavations
This photo taken on 14.1.2018 looks West towards the Chapels, and shows at least three separate sites of disturbance/excavations on the C of E side of the Cemetery. Angela Dunn, then working for BORI Ltd had claimed that the only work being done in the Cemetery grounds with her permission was landscaping. She subsequently said the roadway foundation had been laid in error by another contractor (? Mr Gohil's company - Armstrong's). We had no knowledge of these three separate excavations, and almost eight years later have no explanation for why any of them were dug
A close-up of the roadway base which has already been constructed after excavation of the area and infilling before covering in gravel. This work was consistently described by Angela Dunn the then Manager of BORI Ltd, solely as landscaping, which had been carried out contrary to her instructions by a contractor who we believe to have been Armstrong's, a company which seems to have been owned by a Mr Sundeep Gohil, who, over the period 2017/2019 made five separate applications for planning permission in respect of the Calderstones Cemetery, and was at that time, a co-director of All Faiths Remembrance Parks Ltd with Mr N Gerard, who we believe has been the beneficial owner of the Calderstones Cemetery since 2016.
After 11.1.2018
This is one of the first photos taken after the whole Cemetery has been confirmed as consecrated land on which the owners/contractors have no faculty authority to be doing construction work of any kind. The view is to the south with the C of E Chapel visible on the right.The roadway has been completely excavated filled in and had been in the process of being rolled when this photo was taken.
Northern GOR
This early photo of the damage to the area of the Northern Garden of Remembrance was an immediate cause for concern, but members who were trying to confirm the consecrated status of the Cemetery were still being re-assured that only the preparatory landscaping work in the woodland area was being completed,
A broad sweep
Looking along the base of the new roadway, the Booth Hall babies graves are in the taped-of areas in front of the two chapels. The location immediately before the central path on the right is an area of the known Southern Garden of Remembrance (GOR) and a similar area on the far (northern) side of that central path is believed to be part of the Norther Garden of Remembrance. (GOR)
A memorable Remembrance
Remembrance Service 1st November
After a very wet morning we were fortunate to have a short dry spell in which time, we were able to have a wreath-laying ceremony on behalf of the deceased former residents of Calderstones Hospital, now buried in the cemetery. Earlier, the traditional parade followed by the full Remembrance service in the QMMH Cemetery had taken place.
We were honoured to have the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Mrs Amanda Parker, the Mayor and Mayoress of Ribble Valley Borough Council, Simon and Donna O'Rourke and the Vicar of Whalley Parish Church, the Reverend Jonathon Carmyllie and representatives of Parish Council, the British Legion and other civic groups with us on the day.
The Mayor placed a wreath on the site of the Booth Hall babies and made a short speech in which he spoke of all the deceased but made a timely connection between the wartime deaths of the babies and the military personnel buried in the adjoining QMMH cemetery.
Reverend Carmyllie gave a powerful oration emphasising that in the eyes of God, all the people in Whalley on both sides of the trees on Mitton Road were equally valued and respected.
Mrs Pamela Haralambos laid a wreath on behalf of the Friends of Calderstones and Brockhall Hospital Cemeteries
Remembrance
This year's service was another memorable and moving experience, especially for the families and friends of the deceased who were able to attend and for those who for whatever reason could not be with us.
Special thanks are due to Dave Eltman and his colleagues in the British Legion for the respectful Guard of Honour. Also, to Chris Davies and his team at LSC NHS Trust for the welcoming hospitality and excellent refreshments.
October 2025
Brockhall 1951
We recently discovered an article written by a Mr H Lindsay, then Secretary to the Brockhall Hospital Management Committee, which was published in the periodical "The Hospital" in December of that year. While the article focuses on the administrative aspects of Mr Lindsay's work, it gives a unique and understandably proud insight into the Hospital very shortly after it became part of the NHS. While some of the descriptions and language used betray the attitudes, aspirations and limitations of that era, they provide a useful base from which we can identify and measure the massive changes which have occurred in the past 70 years. Perhaps, it also serves as a humbling reminder to consider how the attitudes, aspirations and limitations of today's services and their providers, might be viewed in the year 2105. You can find the full article in the Brockhall Hospital History section, as a sub-section of the Brockhall Cemetery section
Brockhall Cemetery discussions
Members are currently involved in substantial research and detailed discussions about the history, ownership and management of the Cemetery prior to and after the sale of the Cemetery in October 2000,. We are looking at the possibility of members playing an increasingly active and responsible role in the future management and possible leasing or ownership of the Cemetery. Presently, we are trying to establish a common understanding of the exact boundaries of the Cemetery, with details of the existing responsibilities and liabilities of the current owners. We are very fortunate to have a copy of the original but faded burial plan which is currently being copied and will be reproduced on the site; it has many interesting details but raises many more questions to add to the huge list which we already have. It is necessary to collate information from a variety of sources some of which are relatively easy to access while others might take much longer; yu can find them in the sub-sections on the Brockhall Cemetery page. As part of the process we are reviewing the records which e already have, many of which are already on the site, but still provide a few surprises when you go back to them after months or years. One document which stands out and reflects the huge changes in society's attitudes over the past 90 years is the "Key Plan for the Brockhall Institution for Mental Defectives - Langho near Blackburn." The language used and the site plan are from a very different age, but its important to recollect that the people who first designed and then operated institutions like Brockhall, were proud of their provision and genuinely believed that they were acting in the best interests of the people who would live there, their families and the local community. The current providers of support services in the community, may aspire to similar objectives.
Brockhall Site Plan - 1934
Contact from the Chancellor
We have recently had correspondence from the Chancellor of the Consistory Court of the Blackburn Diocese in relation to our objection to the application for faculty which the Court has received, requesting permission for a car park and roadways to be constructed on what is consecrated ground, within the Cemetery. Our objection was first submitted in May of this year and while we realise that these matters take time and the Court has to follow set procedures in its considerations of applications and objections we are pleased to have had this correspondence, confirming that the application and our objection are being considered.
Remembrance Service
The Reverend Jonathon Carmyllie, who is Vicar of the Parish Church of St Mary's and All Saints in Whalley, and will be leading the Remembrance Service in the Queen Mary's Military Hospital Cemetery, on November 1st. Later, after we leave the QMMH section, he has agreed to join us and say a few words during the wreath-laying ceremony for the Calderstones deceased which will be held close to the site of the Garden of Remembrance and the Booth Hall babies graves. This is a welcome development and a recognition of the deceased and their families which will be appreciated by all those present on the day and those, who for whatever reason are unable to be present. Simon O'Rourke, the current Mayor of Ribble Valley Borough Council, has also agreed to join us and will say a few words before laying a wreath for the Calderstones deceased on behalf of the Council. Members who attended lat year's service will recall that the then Mayor, Councillor Louise Edge spoke sensitively and sympathetically abut the deceased and showed an understanding of the complex history which had brought so many of these people to spend their lives and then die .in the attractive surroundings and tranquility of Whalley.
The magnificent oak
The recent photograph of the oak tree in the Whalley Cemetery on a sunny evening has sparked s lot of interest in its history, location and size. Apparently, the circumference of the tree measures 14 feet three inches at a height of 4.5 feet which can be calculated to suggest that the tree is approximately 272 years old. If correct, then it was planted around 1753, during the the reign of King George 2nd which was the first year after Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar.
With the benefit of skilled advice it may be possible to date the tree more accurately, but it may be one of the oldest surviving oak trees in the Whalley district although local historians and arborists might soon offer other candidates for the title of the oldest oak.
Remembrance Service
Joshua Counsell from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust has been in touch to confirm arrangements for Saturday 1st November 2025. Hopefully we will have good weather on the day and many of you will be able to attend.
September 2025
Remembrance Service 1st November
Apologies for the delay but we have been waiting for confirmation of the date and details of the annual Remembrance service and march-past from Calderstones to the Queen Marys Military Cemetery and a short wreath-laying service near the site of the Booth Hall babies graves, similar to that of the last two years. Unfortunately, since the transfer of the Calderstones site from the Mersey Care NHS Trust to the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust communication has been a little more difficult and we have yet to receive confirmation from the Trust. However, the always supportive Dave Eltman from the British Legion has been in touch to say that the service will begin at 9.30 on Saturday 1st November in the former St Luke's Church. We have passed this limited information on to the Reverend Jonathon Carmylie who normally leads the QMMH service and hope that he will say a few a few words after that service. at the site of our wreath-laying, by the Booth Hall babies..
Hopefully, despite the late notice many members will be able to attend the service and any further news or details from the Trust will be posted on this site as soon as it is received,
Sunset at Brockhall
An early evening photo taken from behind Peter Jones's grave looking across towards the Memorial and the Hitman family graves. Behind the central row of trees is the former gravedigger's shed and the RC section of the Cemetery..
A magnificent oak
A photo taken the same evening as the Brockhall sunset, the magnificent tree seemed outstanding against a clear blue sky. It's quite likely that this tree predates the 1916 construction of the Cemetery and has been a constant, through its noble and sometimes chequered history. On the ground the grass does not appear to have been cut for a while and after the "credit where it's due"note in July it was disappointing to see the number of marker sticks which had been broken. The damage looks to have been caused accidentally, possibly by unusually heavy and wise equipment en route to or from the the QMMH section
August 2025
Annual Remembrance Service
The annual Remembrance Services at the Queen Mary Military Hospital Cemetery is expected to take place on Saturday 2nd November, although the arrangements have yet to be confirmed by the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust which is now responsible for the Calderstones site. Last year, the Reverend Brian McConskey from St Wilfrid's Church at Ribchester officiated at the military service and later gave a short homily on behalf of all the deceased former Calderstones residents at the site of the Booth Hall babies graves. Hopefully. there will be a similar homily this year, provided by the Minister, after officiating at the Military Cemetery, which is usually the Vicar of Whalley
Objection to the Faculty application
The Chancellor's consideration of the faculty application for the Calderstones Cemetery along with the objection/s to that application is progressing gradually. We have received notification of an initial timetable from Lisa Moncur and hope to have some further developments to report back on during October.
Mendip Hospital Cemetery
Friends of Mendip Hospital Cemeteryhttps://mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk
The Siting and Planning of Crematoria
David Fitzpatrick has circulated this interesting report produced by the Department of Environment in 1978, which although subsequently revised provides a factual account of the general advice which potential developers and local authority planning departments would have needed to consider in the planning and approval of plans for the development of a crematorium. This advice was in the public domain throughout the years 2009 to 2019 when we are advised multiple different proposals and plans for the development of a crematorium. We cannot be certain to what extent the planners consulted this document or any other relevant written reports and given the unusual and specialist nature of the proposal they may have taken independent professional advice. However, in considering the attached copy of the Department of Environment report below, readers might understandably question why so many of the specific areas of advice seem to have been overlooked, ignored or were simply unknown to the planners who were tasked with advising the elected members on the merits and contradictions of the proposed development which are highlighted in this report.
Following the publication of this report we have had several enquiries concerning where planning departments and planners would obtain the specialist advice and precedents necessary to consider what would be a very unusual application for any authority to receive, amongst the normal requests for housing development, reconstruction and adaptation. The Department of the Environment may have been able to provide some general advice but as one of our local readers has pointed out that Ribble Valley Borough Council would have developed its own experience in the consideration of a planning application for the proposed development of a crematorium on a site in Langho near Northcote Manor. Apparently after considerable debate and public participation that application was eventually rejected by the Council for reasons which may have some relevance or connection to the situation at the Calderstones Cemetery.
The former Archdeacon's report -
Supreme Court- Press statement
On the 30th July the Supreme Court issued a press statement in relation to its consideration of the interpretation of the Cremation Act 1902. The case related to an appeal brought against the Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government which questioned how and from where the 200-yard rule of section 5 of the Act should be measured. The Court confirmed that it should be taken from the fabric of the building in which cremations were to take place, which is how the Friends have measured the distance in relation to the proposed development which was proposed for the Calderstones Cemetery.
However, in its considerations the Court clearly confirms what section 5 provides and there can be no ambiguity about that interpretation. Contrary to what may have been claimed by others. "No crematorium shall be constructed nearer to any dwelling house than two hundred yards, except with the consent in writing, of the owner, lessee and occupier of such house, nor within fifty yards of any public highway, nor in the consecrated part of the burial ground of any burial authority.
July 2025
The former Archdeacon's report.
A little credit where it is due
It is pleasing to see that the grass has been cut and attempts have been made to tidy up the Cemetery, which while some members might question the timing, will be appreciated by all. The general area of the proposed crematorium has been left uncut which makes its location more easily identifiable. Grass in the rest of the cemetery has ben cut using machinery and several of the individual wooden memorial crosses have ben knocked over and in some cases broken. The stone memorials are covered in grass cuttings but should be visible again shortly
Photo gallery
Photos
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Maya Ellis MP
Efforts to engage with Maya in discussions about the Calderstones Cemetery are continuing, but despite the persistence of David Pinder and other constituency members they have been unsuccessful so far. We will continue trying to establish that contact which could prove to be very valuable in accessing support and assistance from different government departments in the future. It is particularly disappointing for members who perhaps were spoilt by the active support and advocacy of the previous MP who regularly made himself available for consultations and facilitated access to ministers and representatives of the Department of Health.
June 2025
Brockhall Cemetery
The Friends have been approached by representatives of the current owners of the Cemetery to consider taking over the future management of the Cemetery, with the intention of ensuring that the graves of the deceased are respected, maintained and protected in perpetuity. While this unexpected invitation is both welcome and exciting, it is also a daunting prospect, which we will need to consider very carefully before we are able to make any decisions. The invitation is perhaps a recognition of the work and advocacy the Friends have done in, and on behalf of the deceased in both the Brockhall and Calderstones Cemetery and has the potential to raise our involvement to a significantly different level of responsibility and influence. We have only recently started what is likely to be a lengthy process of a detailed evaluation of the potential benefits responsibilities and liabilities of this exciting invitation and welcome the views of all members.
We also look forward to hearing from the relatives of people buried in the Cemetery as well as neighbours living in and around the Brockhall Village area, many of whom walk through the Cemetery regularly and will have their own ideas on how the Cemetery can be secured and protected for the future.
1993- notice the difference
The Brockhall Garden of Remembrance
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Clarification from Lisa Moncur
We have received this helpful clarification from Lisa Moncur which will assist members and others who have submitted their objections to the faculty application. Please note, in view of the earlier article, that Lisa refers to the petitioners as Remembrance Parks Construction Limited, rather than Mr Ron Dunn.
Who is applying for faculty?
Members and visitors who have read our information relating to faculty have asked, who is making the application to the Diocese for faculty approval? There has been an assumption that it would be the owners, Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd, who would be making the application, but that may be mistaken. On the basis of the official information which the Friends have received, it is Mr Ron Dunn who is listed as the Plaintiff in this application, and it was to his address that objectors were required to send their objections. Mr Dunn may be acting either as an employee or agent of the owners, but as the named person in these proceedings, his position and responsibility seem quite clear
The Friends become a party opponent
The former Archdeacon
Last summer, following the Bishop's decision to conditionally remove the consecrated status from part of the Cemetery, the Friends undertook a thorough and detailed reassessment of Archdeacon Mark Ireland's involvement with the Cemetery over the past eight years. We were reliant on our own records as well as those which were publicly available from different authorities and recognised that despite the substantial volume of information which was available to us, it was inevitably incomplete as we had no access to diocesan records. We also acknowledged that it was possible that we may have made some mistakes, in the accuracy and veracity of some of the content. For that reason, we carefully reviewed the details of each of the points we were making, ensuring that we had the correct references and details of events. As our posting in October 2024 shows, the Friends intention was to doubly check our information before giving the Archdeacon the opportunity to challenge or correct the content
"The details of these events have ben retained but will be published after the Archdeacon has been given the opportunity to challenge their veracity."
Earlier this year while still checking our research, we were surprised to hear that the Archdeacon would be retiring in early April and decided after a further review of all the content, to send him a copy of our report, inviting him to challenge or correct any of the content, while he was still in post and had access to his own records. A full copy of the report will be reproduced in the following pages and having the opportunity to study its content, members and readers might expect that the Archdeacon would have wanted to immediately challenge any misrepresentation of the facts and correct any mistakes which we had made, while providing his own narrative of the same and other events. It is both disappointing and disturbing that the now retired Venerable Mark Ireland has chosen not to respond to the serious content of the report, as is his right.
As references to the former Head of Planning at Ribble Valley Borough Council and the Authority are included in the report, the Friends wish to give them the same opportunity as the Archdeacon was given, with an invitation to challenge or correct any details of the report which they feel would be appropriate. We have suggested 28 days would be a reasonable time for the parties to consider the report and subject to their responses and any alterations which might be made, the report should be published sometime in mid to late July.
Congratulations
May 2025
Acknowledgement from Diocesan Registrar
APRIL 2025.
Access and car park for McDonalds?
Helpful notes for objectors.
One of our members, David Pinder has produced these background notes on the ecclesiastical issues of consecration and consecrated ground which you may find useful in preparing a response to the Diocesan Registrar
The Faculty Application
An application for faculty has been submitted on behalf of the Owners. Please note that this application relates solely to consecrated ground and is quite separate from last year's application to de-consecrate an area of the Cemetery for the construction of a crematorium. we encourage members and visitors to the site to write to the Diocesan Registrar at the address given expressing their views about he proposal to construct roadways and parking areas on an area of consecrated ground, in which we believe the remains of hundreds of men women and children from Calderstones are buried
March 2025
Contact with the Ministry of Justice
Waiting for the Archdeacon
Old cuttings from the LET
It is interesting to review the newspaper coverage of the proposed sale of the Cemeteries, especially with the knowledge of what actually happened and the reliability or otherwise of the commitments which were made. Readers may find the subsequent comments of Mr Gerald Hitman and the much later letter of the then Secretary of State for Health, Mr Stephen Hammond, to be revealing.
A special birthday
David Fitzpatrick celebrated a special birthday with a weekend away in York. A stalwart and still very active member of the Friends who spent his working life in Calderstones, David is the reliable source of information about all aspects of the history and operation of the Hospital, its generations of different staff and most importantly, the memorable characters who lived their lives as "patients" of the Hospital, but who to David, were always simply known as his friends. He remains active with his allotment in Sabden and is involved in numerous local and sporting charities. He continues to assist a friend who has some disabilities to attend football matches at Burnley and Blackburn Rovers, yet still finds the time and contributions to support the Whalley in Bloom charity.
More Casella photos
January 2025
Law Commission's consultation
The Friends begun the new year with a request to contribute to the Law Commission's consultation on proposed changes to burial legislation which seeks to address the relevance of often historic legislation to the changing circumstances and expectations of the modern day. There were multiple aspects of legislation to be considered, many of which were not relevant for the Friends, but we were asked to comment on the neglect of cemeteries and the remedies and controls which might be applied in such situations. We were also able to quote from our own direct experience with section 5 of the Cremation Act 1902 and the apparent indifference or ignorance of some developers to those regulations, Aspects of governance and enforcement were addressed and it is likely that we may have further contact with the Commission in this respect. The poor, inconsistent and at times complete absence of records dealing with all aspects of burial practice was highlighted and we have been asked to comment on our experience of those few areas in which excellent and fully accessible records have survived, contrasting with the majority, which for whatever reason, are simply no longer available.We have particular experience of trying to compile detailed and corroborated records of deaths, burials and cremations from different authorities across a lengthy period of time. In a few instances that corroboration has been immediately available, but often it has been impossible to make the same links and occasionally where the records of one authority conflict with those of another, and 40 to 50 years after the event, it is impossible to decide between those different accounts. We have already had our fist acknowledgement and contact from the Commission and look forward to being able to make further contributions in the future
Old records and articles.
Shortly before Christmas we received a valuable collection of copies of old records and newspaper articles relating to the Cemetery which make interesting and informative reading,when you consider how events have developed since they were originally produced, how some plans and commitments have been honoured or ignored, and how parts of the Cemetery's history have been conveniently overlooked or forgotten especially when they might contradict the different narratives which the owners, developers, planners and representatives of the Diocese may wish to promote and defend. Over the coming months we hope to reproduce these documents but will begin with earlier plans of a former owner, Colin Arkwright promoting the services which he was offering as part of the Ribble Valley Remembrance Park. Readers will note that Family Burial Plots, Vaulted Burial Plots, Natural burials, as well as Ash Plots and scattering in the Garden of Memories were all available and in some cases, special services were available for pets. We know that Rosemary Needham and the "Lady in the wicker basket" were buried in the Cemetery at this time, and the obvious question remains how many other people were also buried in the same area by the owners of Ribble Valley Remembrance Parks?.The official register record and family rights to Rosemary Needham's grave have survived, but what about those other people. Anybody who walks the length of the northern section of the Cemetery, where Rosemary and the Lady in the wicker basket are buried, especially in dry or frosty conditions cannot miss the multiple areas of regular shaped subsidence in the ground, and will rightly question, if they are not graves, what else could they be?
Retirement of the Archdeacon
Recent photos
During the recent cold and frosty weather a series of photos were taken showing the areas in which the trees were removed from the woodland area and a general views of both the Calderstones and the QMMH cemeteries. With the severe frost, the overgrown vegetation is much easier to access and visit the graves but also to identify the location of any grave. The marker sticks remain in place identifying the rows of graves in both the northern and southern section and with the knowledge of the row number, it is possible to locate any individual grave in that row of 24, using approximately 44" spacings between the verges of each row. The severe frost also highlights the multiple areas of seemingly regular shaped subsidence across the northern section of the Cemetery; if we do experience a further spell of similarly cold and freezing weather, then it might be an ideal time for visitors to see these places.
A winter visit
Further photos
February 2025
The Casella photos
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News from the past
To understand the Cemetery's current situation, It is useful to reflect on it's history using the records of newspaper coverage from the time. We will produce a series of articles over the next few months but begin which a piece from the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times from September 2000, a month before the sale of the Cemetery
But where did they come from?
People who have had no prior contact with either Calderstones or Brockhall often ask where all the people sometimes referred to as patients, came from. At one time, both hospitals each had over 2000 people who were being cared for, and approximately 500 staff members and their families many of whom were living on the same site. Both populations far outnumbered those in the local villages, and relatively few people from those villages were ever admitted to either hospital. These two hospitals provided regional rather than local services of long-term or permanent care for people who were said to have an intellectual disability, previously known as a mental handicap. The North-West region covered a very large geographical areas in which the major conurbations of Liverpool and Manchester had the largest populations and we might expect to find the greater number of admissions to Calderstones and Brockhall coming from those areas.
Our recent research into the additional Catholic burials has been very useful in identifying the areas from which some of the people may have come from. Unusually, one of the individuals may be local and originally from Longridge; we think three came from Rochdale, four from Liverpool, one from St Helens, another from Oldham, one from Manchester, one from Cheshire County and the furthest from Stoke on Trent. Once admitted to long-term care, very few of these people would have ever returned to their "home" area, where there were no alternative facilities. Instead, they would be assimilated into the Calderstones and Whalley community, to live and die as residents of an institution in the Ribble Valley.. For one of them, William Herk from Manchester, he would set a national record in spending 75 years in Calderstones and Whalley. When people who still had family connections, died in Calderstones or Brockhall, there was always the option of the body being returned to home areas for burial or interment, if that was the individual's or the family's wish. For other's, perhaps like William Herk, their "home," was Whalley, not Manchester, and suitable arrangements would be made in that area.
We are continuing the research into this group and hope that we will soon have similar information from local Church of England communities, as we believe that it had been considerably larger than the Roman Catholic group.
Church Fields
Several members were invited and attended the recent "event" on the Hospital site, marking the formal adoption of the name Church Fields and the beginnings of a new relationship between the wider community of the Whalley district, with the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust. The Event was planned to be the first in a series of getting to know each other, and beginning to formulate the exciting future of the services which the Trust is hoping to provide. Members were able to provide a presentation and answer questions on the history and operation of the Caldrerstones Hospital, explaining the link with, and current issues facing the Cemetery. Details of further events will be circulated.
The Cemetery -2003
March 2025.
Brockhall Cemetery 2000.