Stroud Local History Society - Stroud Cemetery

FISHER tells the story in his Notes and Recollections of Stroud (published 1871).

In 1854 a new cemetery for Stroud was needed, as the various burial grounds were full.

The new Burial Board bought six acres of land from Joseph Watts (owner of the Stroud Brewery) at Coneygre.

The entrance lodge and the twin chapels were designed, in decorated Gothic, by the local architects, Messrs Baker and Son.

The total cost was £3,547 - paid from the poor rates.

More land was bought in 1867 and 1869.

The cemetery grounds were divided into three areas for Church of England, Non-Conformists, and paupers.

The pauper’s area was directly opposite the Union Workhouse in Bisley Road.

On the September 4, 1856, William Lewis, a pauper from the workhouse, was the first person to be interred.

Another resident of the workhouse was Sara Dancey Face, who died aged 100 years and 47 days and was buried in the pauper area in December 1863.

She was a poor but respected member of the Society of Wesleyans in Acre Street and one of her earliest memories was that she had once cleaned the shoes of John Wesley, when he was on one of his visits to his Society in Stroud.

The original burial ground, off Bisley Road, is now a protected wild life reserve.

There is more information on our website about people buried in the cemetery - from artists to teachers: stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/research/cemetery

Can you help us? We would like information about

• Hamwell Silk Mill

• Quarry Hill Farm Thrupp

• Parish and Oldhills Woods.

• House called "Raybar" in Longridge

• Cashes Green Methodist Church

• The Whitehouse, 307 Westward Road

• Stone quarries at Nailsworth

• Cottages at Bowbridge at bottom of Butterrow Hill

Please email: contact@stroudlocalhistorysociety.org.uk