Thurnscoe Cemetery

Pupils unveil Thurnscoe Baby Memorial

The Dearne Memorial Group was formed in December 2002 with the aims of improving the appearance of Thurnscoe cemetery and safeguarding its historic value for the community.

Thurnscoe Baby Memorial

At an early meeting Ken Eastwood, the Council's Bereavement Services Manager and Chair of the Group, suggested that as its first project the group could consider raising funds for a memorial to mark the Children's Public Graves in Thurnscoe cemetery. With assistance from Paul Beardsley, Cemetery and Crematorium Supervisor, the group learned that there were over 500 babies and some adults buried in unmarked graves on this site.

The Group quickly began fund raising, with much help from the local community. The aim was to commission a memorial to all of the babies buried in the area and a local mason, SR Wesson of Goldthorpe, was approached. Steve Wesson designed the monument and subsequently Brian Butterfield and staff from Swinton completed the work.

Background to Public Graves

In the past society dealt differently with bereavement and loss. High child mortaility was a dominant feature and can be attributed to the conditions in which children were born. In the 1900's there were no toilets but instead ashpits called “Middens” were in common use. Unfortunately, the sewage from Hickleton seeped down into Thurnscoe Dyke and into the drinking water. Typhoid, Diptheria, Whooping Cough, Influenza and other contagious diseases took their toll on the children of Thurnscoe and surrounding villages.

Many of the children buried were stillborn due to congenital abnormalities or problems in childbirth. Tragically, there are several mothers and babies buried together in Thurnscoe Cemetery when both were lost due to medical complications and a lack of facilities.

Many parents who lost children were told, “Go home, we will take care of things.” They were never told where their baby was buried.

People were poor and many children were buried in graves along with a recent adult death, with the families' permission. If this hadn't been done the numbers would have been even greater in the Children's Public Graves.