January 2026..

Brockhall Cemetery interest

Attempts to identify and contact relatives of people who are buried within the Cemetery have been successful and are continuing. We are pleased to have identified relatives in each of the three religiously separated sections of the Cemetery, who are generally among the post-1970 burials but we already have contacts with relatives from earlier years. We are now reaching out to the many other relatives of the deceased, neighbours, former staff of the hospital, and the congregation of St Leonard's Church as well as other interested parties who may have no previous connection with the Cemetery or the Hospital, to join us in considering the Cemetery's future. We hope to arrange a meeting in the Brockhall area in early March and would welcome contact  at calderstonescemetery@gmail.com from anybody wishing to attend the meeting or participate via the internet. For the time being we will continue to use the Calderstones Cemetery email connection, but it may be appropriate to establish a bespoke email address for Brockhall enquiries at a later date.   

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                                           Latest Brockhall Cemetery enquiries

     Informative and productive enquiries with the local representative of the current owners, have continued and we have established a good understanding of what might be involved in the future stewardship and protection of the cemetery, however that might be achieved. An incomplete but detailed history of the Cemetery from its inception in 1936/7 to current times has been established with the support of the Lancashire Archives, former staff of the Hospital  and our own old records. We are in touch with representatives of the Dunkenhalgh Estate who originally donated the land and have a copy of the latest Land Registry record of ownership of the Title, but there are still some boundary lines and responsibilities which need to be clarified. Unfortunately, attempts to contact representatives of the now redundant St Leonard's Church and the Diocese of Blackburn, both of whom, might be able to assist with our enquiries has not yet produced results. However, contact with the Church Conservation Trust who are currently responsible for maintaining the former church, but not the churchyard and St.Leonard's Cemetery have been very useful. 

 As any visitor to the Brockhall Cemetery would see, the grounds are generally well-maintained with the grass cut regularly, but the overgrown hedges and self-seeded trees, especially in the Roman Catholic section at the western end of the Cemetery need attention. After the exceptionally wet weather of recent months, there has also been concern about some waterlogging in the C section of the Cemetery variously described as the "Non-conformist," "Other religions" or "Jewish section" in the past, which will need to be closely monitored

                            Calderstones Cemetery 2018 - More Photos

        We have some further drone photos of the Cemetery taken in 2018 which appear to show lots of unexplained workings and markings in the ground which we were not previously aware of. There may be simple explanations of what occurred in these areas but it is confusing that several appear to be in parts of the cemetery away from the chapels and gardens of remembrance. Before the photos are posted on the site we need to check the details. They appear to have been taken on two separate days the 1st and the 11th August 2018, but we want to be as accurate as possible and await further clarification between those two dates.

                                    Update on the Faculty process

Following the Consistory Court hearing on 17th December the Friends were required to submit a formal statement of our objection to the Court, with copies to the Plaintiff and their legal representative by 30th January 2026. That deadline was met and on receipt of our statement, the Plaintiff is now required to make a formal response to that document by the 27th February. We will continue to update members on any developments.

February 2026

                               Brockhall Cemetery - ownership records

    Recent enquiries with the Lancashire Records Office and individuals who have been associated with the Cemetery in the past, have given us a fuller but not necessarily complete record of its ownership history.  The Cemetery was established in the late 1930's and consecrated on the 27th March 1939. The land for the cemetery was donated by the Petre family as part of the Dunkenhalgh estate. The exact details of that transfer and its boundary responsibilities are still unconfirmed but it does appear that the adjoining St. Leonard's Church was responsible for the joint southern boundary. From 1939 to 1991 the Cemetery was part of Brockhall Hospital and as such, was in the ownership/stewardship of the NHS. In 1991, the whole hospital site was controversially transferred to a Mr Gerald Hitman; he assumed that he was the owner of the Cemetery and erected the memorial monument in 1993. In a further controversy in October 2000 the NHS sold the site pre-auction to a Mr Tony Walsh. Mr Hitman disputed the sale, but by that time, the sale had been completed. In early 2001 discussions took place involving the relevant parties and led to Mr Walsh selling the Cemetery back to the Hitman family, but to a Mr Harry Hitman rather than his father, Gerald Hitman. From 2001 until his death in 2017, the Cemetery remained in the ownership of Harry Hitman, when  a we believe  it was transferred to his mother Mrs Helen Hitman.

                                              Latest drone photos

We recently received a series of 10 drone photos of the Cemetery (see example below) believed to have been taken on the 1st August 2018 and therefore show the Cemetery shortly after all work on the roadways which had taken place without faculty permission had been stopped. The significant earthworks which were shown previously had also been replaced and relaid. However, these drone photos show evidence of possible earthworks or activity in other areas of the Cemetery, including the site of the proposed development, which we have not seen before.  There may be  simple survey or construction explanations for what can be seen in the various sites which are shown. Fortunately, we are still in touch with people who may be able to resolve any uncertainties about them, and will share any further information which they are able to provide, Some members and readers may not recall that in January 2018 following the confirmation that the Cemetery was consecrated ground, access to the Cemetery was at first denied and subsequently boarded off for a long time. It was for that reason that resourceful members began to use drone photography to allow us to see what was happening within the Cemetery, and provide the valuable information which we have today. 

 We are grateful that following the intervention of a local politician in 2021, the restrictive boards were taken down and access via the previous arrangements was restored, allowing relatives and friends to visit.

                                                        David Pinder

David Pinder, who has done an enormous amount of work for the Friends in relation to both the Calderstones and Brockhall Cemeteries has decided to stand down, take a rest and concentrate on his many other voluntary activities within the local community.  David took responsibility for all the Friend's time-consuming research and contacts with the MOJ in relation to sections 5 and 8 of the Cremation Act 1902, and represented us in contact with local and national political representatives. He has generously volunteered to continue his work with the local community, especially those living within the 200-yard zone, in respect of any objection or action concerning the Cremation Act. David's comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of that legislation will be appreciated by his neighbours.

  As well as his substantial contribution in respect of the Calderstones Cemetery, David still found time to lead on our early contacts with representatives of the current owners of Brockhall Cemetery, producing a substantive assessment and analysis of the potential benefits and liabilities for the Friends in assuming any role in the future stewardship and operation of the Brockhall Cemetery. The clarity of his assessment and recommendations for further research and action, represents our current position and will  form the template of those who will continue this vital work in the future. 

   We would like to place on record our appreciation for all the work he has done and responsibilities which he willingly undertook and performed so well. Obviously, we will miss him, but wish him well in taking a well-deserved rest before resuming his other voluntary work within and beyond the local community. 

                        Hospital Cemetery Records

As part of our recent research with the Lancashire Archives, we have discovered that while the substantial collection of records from Brockhall and Calderstones cemeteries which the Archives has been given is acknowledged and are available, they have not yet been listed within or alongside the other "Hospitals and Workhouses" section. This appears to be an administrative delay or oversight which hopefully will be resolved in due course. However, the full records for the Whittingham Hospital Cemetery are available, and it is possible that records from the cemeteries of other hospitals and former workhouses may also be available

Brockhall 1937- a different age

Recent enquiries at the Archives have revealed interesting information about the numbers and ages of people (patients) living at the hospital/institution in 1937 and a fascinating description of the abilities and employability of those people. Four years after Brockhall separated from Calderstones to become an independent and self-managed State facility providing long-term or permanent care for people who were said to be unable to live independently because of their intellectual disabilities and other social problems the institution was a very different place to what would become post-War Brockhall.  The total resident population was 796 when by the late 50's that figure would be 2200. There were 519 female resident compared with 277 males perhaps reflecting Brockhall's earlier function as a reformatory for women who were said to have problems with alcohol abuse. In later years, as the population increased the number of male residents would exceed the female total. The age distribution is interesting, the youngest person being 11 and the oldest 70, compared with 1 (1966) to 92 (1973) 98.11% of the 1937 population are between 11 and 55, its a comparatively young population. 

The figures show that in the year to September there had been 44 new admissions. the youngest such admission being 13, the oldest 36, and the number of females is greater than males, which might reflect not only the priority of need but also the availability of newly built residential accommodation (wards) on the site

  The revealing information about the abilities of the people shows that only 64 people, 9% of the September population of 717 people were sick, infirm or unemployable. The rest were described as being actively and constructively employed in some form of activity, contributing to the the day to day operation of the Institution. The reference to the Low Grade Workroom for both male and female residents would suggest that everybody who could contribute, whatever their abilities would be engaged in communal activities away from the Ward or living area.

 The conditional licencing of individuals to spend short or long periods away from Brockhall The "release" and "return" with the "escaped" and "recaptured" details remind us that all 796 residents were legally certified and compulsorily detained, neither they, nor their relatives had the option of leaving. Perhaps it is the fundamental change in society's attitudes and the rights of people which are so evident from these records.

March 2026

Faculty Application - Latest

Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd, the plaintiff's who have applied to the Consistory Court for faculty permission to construct roadways and car parks on consecrated ground within the Calderstones Cemetery complied with the Court's timetable on the 27th February and produced a detailed response to the statement which was submitted to the Court on behalf of the Friends on the 30th January.  To further comply with the Court's timetable, the Friends are now required to respond to the plaintiff's statement by Friday 13th March with copies to the relevant parties involved.