Marking 150 years of burials at Ellesmere site

The first burial at Ellesmere Cemetery on Swan Hill took place in 1865 and now there are about 2,000 graves on the site, with room for another 10 to 12 more years of burials.

On Sunday, the cemetery committee will mark its 150th year of being used with a service looking back at its history.

Jack Frost, chairman of the committee, said: "We have got the actual gravestone of the first person who was buried there and her name was Rebecca Hayes.

"She was buried in August 1865 and was 78 at the time.

"If you think about when she was born it's more than 200 years ago.

"It is quite interesting really because you are looking at the history of the town and we have got burials and ashes here.

"They used to use sandstone for the headstones, which is not very durable and it is gradually wearing away.

"But you can still read the inscriptions at the moment."

The land was donated by Earl Brownlow after a nearby cemetery became full.

Now the land is jointly owned by Ellesmere Town Council and Ellesmere Rural Parish Council.

The Brownlow family is buried on the site, and there are also eight war graves at the cemetery.

Mr Frost said the cemetery has seen changes over the years including refurbishment of gates and the chapel as well as a move from the popularity of burials to cremations.

He said: "Burials are very expensive and they are getting more expensive every year.

"Times are tight at the moment and I think they will be tight for some time.

"Cremations are gradually overtaking and I think it is something like 75 per cent are now cremations with 25 per cent burials.

"We are running short of land though, we only have about 10 or 12 years left, and there are roughly about 12 burials each year."

The service to mark 150 years of the cemetery's use will take place at the chapel on Sunday at 2.30pm.