Royal Sutton Coldfield



 Cemetery - Rectory Road

25th August 2011

February 20th 2014: Today I revisited the cemetery to find a Probation Officer and some 'community payback' workers clearing up the graves and removing masses of undergrowth. I was delighted to find graves long hidden underneath brambles etc and history revealed. Thanks to Bham Council & The Probation Service for this excellent piece of work, wonderful. I have added some images of today below (dated). Mar 27th 2014. There is one small patch not cleared, I presume they have reasons?

I have driven past this cemetery, next to the Good Hope hospital, on hundreds of occasions and never thought to have a look for myself until today. I drove up the small roadway and spotted a beautiful old building, half timbered. It was the original entrance to the cemetery which I believe dates back to the mid 1800s. I also understands that this beautiful building is NOT LISTED and that Birmingham 'Socialist Republic' Council want to knock it down to save on maintenance costs. As I was walking around the original section of the cemetery, I was approached by a very polite and helpful gent who informed me that I was not allowed to take photographs in the cemetery as 'it invaded their privacy'. I laughed and he told me it was Council policy. Can you believe it, the person in the grave has been dead for over 200 years and I am invading THEIR privacy!! So I waited until the gent had left and took two images, not for spite, but because of the history attached to them and to hell with the council who WE elect and can un-elect too. Its obviously the 'politically correct' loony left brigade in action again so I shall totally ignore it.

The 7 acre Sutton Coldfield Cemetery was opened in 1881 as an additional burial ground for Holy Trinity Church. As the land was buried upon a further 10 acres of burial land was provided in 1934 when an area next to the original cemetery was opened.

I saw this sign outside the cemetery, it looked so odd!

This is the grave of the Owen family, who resided at New Hall

This is, I believe, the grave of the Hastilow family who owned the Garage and vehicles shown elsewhere and a Hastilow was publican at the New Inn in 1874
February 20th 2014. The images below were hidden under brambles, and have now been cleared.

R A Reay Nadin, JP, Town Clerk and Freeman

Captain M Knott Royal Air Force, a grave once lost and forgotten, but no more, he can again see the sun on his face, so to speak.

This poor man outlived his two sons who both lost their lives in France.
This recently uncovered grave is of an 18 year old lady. What the significance is of the creatures is unknown but there are two doves on the grave,
two lizards engraved into the side of the perimeter and some birds in flight on the top of the headstone. Quite unusual.
By contrast to the work going on inside, this building is severely neglected and needs 'doing up'. I have contacted the Council ad await their reply.
 
Those who died for their country