I was reading the Sheffield Star last night and I noticed a letter regarding Intake Cemetery on Mansfield Road.
The letter was about gravestones that had been vandalised.
I have just returned from Intake cemetery because I wanted to check on a family Grave and I am still in shock.
Fortunately no damage has been done to the Grave that I visit but it really is like a scene from a battlefield.
Many, Many stones have been toppled down classed as unsafe.
The stones have been individually marked with labels.
It seems strange that so many stones should have been classed as dangerous and I noticed that one stone was about eighteen inches in height hardly a danger surely.
I wonder what is going to happen to the stones and will they be transcribed before being removed and possibly destroyed.
Hope the jobsworth who wreaked this damage can sleep at night, like a scene from the Blitz.
Surely for the amount that we are charged in rates then our cemeteries could be better maintained.
I wonder what the reasoning is behind this mass destruction?
If you happen to be passing Intake cemetery then please stop and take a look at the scene, it really makes you feel sad.
I really am shocked, disgusted and sickened and I think that the council should be made to put right the destruction of this sacred
place.

I live about 200 yds from the cemetery, and have noticed that the council vandals have been destroying the place, not only are they damaging a part of Sheffield history, but they are also destroying private family propety. My Grandmothers father died in 1927 and his grave has suddenly disappeared.........courtesy of the council vandals.

This is not just a problem there, its happening all over the city although not to the same extent. Something really should be done before these historic records are lost forever, not only by transcribing the stone, but maybe a digital photo to go with it, hardly a project costing millions.......although if the council do it it could (ahem).

Maybe a few choice letters to the bereavment services at City Rd cemetery.

Rant over

I have a good number of relatives that have been buried in Intake cemetary for the last 100 years, So today I payed a visit to see the extent of whats going on.

Thankfully my relatives graves are ok. But it doesnt make sense of whats going on headstones appeared to be pulled over in a adhoc fashion with a sticker attached informing that the headstone is a dangerous structure. Headstones that were upright have been pulled down, but ones that were leaning over have been left :loopy: Headstones only a few inches high have also fell for the chop so what was dangerous about them ? One headstone was even broken into two pieces. Most of these victorian / edwardian headstones are of a substantial construction and built to last, shown by the fact they have broken some in order to remove them from the ground. All that was needed was to reinstate the ones that were leaning over.

This is our heritage and should be protected for future generations to enjoy. Im sure they would be soon object if we started to knock down the town hall or cathedral, these are protected building so why not our cemeteries?

The Bereavement Services, responsible for this mindless vandalism can be contacted on 0114 2396068 if anyone would like to let them know how they feel on this matter.

Oh my God that's shocking, I pass that cemetry every day... It's terrible what they're doing, very disrespectful and hurtful to families visiting the grave of a loved one... I really can't believe some people could be so heartless :mad:

Just when I decide to post to the list then I have computer problems,
long story<vbg>.
As soon as I can I will be in touch to all that have replied to my posting thank you.
I can also be contacted off the list at
shirley.oakman@therevills.freeserve.co.uk
Thank you to all that have expressed their concern
Cher.

Just to add a further note to this, as I was passing Tinsley Park cemetery today, I just thought i'd pop in and have a look, lo and behold, HUNDREDS of gravestones laid flat, worst of all a skip with broken stones in it, not sure if the council vandals were chucking the ones they broke in, but the place now looks a mess. Up till recently I thought that Tinsley Park was the only one that wasn't being wrecked, but now sadly it is.

Infuriating.


:(

For those of us who wont pass the cemetary... if you people who visit... feel free to take a digi cam pic and post it on the net.

Who knows you could start a petition and we can sign it and add our disgust in the comments!

Some time ago I went for a walk with my sons on Parkwood Springs and we ended up in Wardsend Cemetery. Its a bit neglected and some stones had graffiti on them, but one thing that disgusted me was that one headstone had been chiselled in half to allow the railways (or whoever) to run a fence through along the embankment. Disrespectful or what? The idle sods couldn't be bothered moving it a foot or so to the left.

A new law has just come out in the last 3 months and all grave stones have to have metal rod inplants and the secured to the ground.
I lost my Mum 6 months ago and my Fathers headstone which was bought by my Mum to replace the old one as she expected her time was coming last year had to be fixed with these and they were not law 6 months earlier when the stone was put there.
We had to have her name E.T.C put below my Fathers and then they slapped an extra 90 quid on for the rods.

I can sympathise with what you are saying but some of the graves are untended and are dangerous. I'm sure you'd agree that it's better for the headstones to be laid flat than to fall and kill some unsuspecting person.

I get more angry when I see the basic neglect of Sheffield's cemeteries ie long unkempt grass, litter strewn, motor bikes being allowed to be ridden through, cemeteries used to walk dogs through. We used to have residential wardens at many cemeteries, still I suppose there aren't any votes in coffins.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
A new law has just come out in the last 3 months and all grave stones have to have metal rod inplants and the secured to the ground.

If you look at some of the really old headstones at Intake cemetery, that have been pulled up, they do indeed have metal rod implants, some have even huge stone keyways. These old victorian and edwardian headstones were built to last and from quality materials, there is no need for mindless destruction just for the sake of it.

I have found a web page on Sheffield City Council website that gives detials of the Survey of Cemetery Memorials and giving details of the criteria used to determine if a headstone should be pulled up.

www.sheffield.gov.uk/environment/how-we-work/bereavement/cemeteries/memorial-survey

Are these qualified masons removing the stones or council workmen? Because looking at the damage they have caused to many of them and the fact that the ones that they smashed to pieces were seemingly chucked in a skip at Tinsley, they haven't a clue what they are doing, and simply don't care that they are destroying vital parts of the cities history.

I stand by by phrase of 'council vandals'.

Hi - - I have a similar photo on the-dodlebugger.co.uk/ look for it

headstones going back up in sheffield cems take a look

I, too have relatives (A great-aunt and great-uncle) who are buried in Intake cemetery.

I havent had the chance to get up there, yet, and check whether their graves are amongst those desecrated.

I am aghast that the council vandals have been allowed to desecrate the resting places of peoples' relatives, and to be permitted to cause the families so much anguish...

I realise that the stones need checking out, for being unstable, for safety reasons, but there is no need for the stones to be wrecked, smashed and/or dumped in skips! there is no reason why the stones could not be lain down, gently, and the "owners" (i.e the family) notified in order to get the stones made safe.

It is insulting to the memories of the people buried there, who are, at the end of the day, loved predecessors of the people who are being distressed by this destruction.

PT

This really angers me.

I think that any new rules regarding headstones should not apply retroactively, therefore only new headstones should fall under the rules and unsafe older gravestones should be made safe by the council as part of their budget to look after municipal areas.

Imaging what would happen if the council started laying unsafe lampposts and traffic lights flat and abandoning them, well this is exactly the same except for the fact they know they can get away with it. They hear about the apparant apathy, think people don't care anymore and decide to take the ****. Well they're wrong.

Surely if it cost £90 (commercial price) for the rods then the council should ‘upgrade’ the safety credentials of these old stones rather than lay them down or destroy them. Smashing up our cities rich and proud history like this is unforgivable.

Just read that council article, he's my translation:

Sheffield city council want an excuse to knock down as many graves as possible so they can reclaim land, build houses and sell it for money. (insert fake link to HSE here to get a 404 error) its all the HSE's fault, (insert fake HSE deaths due to falling gravestones link but get 404 error) see people die honest.

What are the council doing

We are seeing which gravestones lie on the most valuable land and we're knocking them down because they are structually unsafe. (really its a damn good excuse)

How is the testing carried out?

Each headstone is carefully assessed, first by a conversation with developers to see where they want to build, then a second test is made where a guy kicks the grave till it moves, this is called a Topple Tester.

What happens if the headstone moves?

If movement of the memorial is detected, details of the grave number and section are noted. Our burial registers are then checked for information regarding the present grave owner and a current address. If there is no-one who is going to complain then we smash the grave and chuck it into a skip.

Due to the fact that the majority of our burial registers only contain the name of the grave owner and do not include a current address, it can be difficult to contact relatives regarding the memorial. However if we do find details of the family on a grave we might convieniently delete them and use this clause as an excuse.

If we have insufficient contact details, the headstone is carefully laid down (cough) and an excuse label placed on the memorial.

How is the headstone laid down?

If a decision has been taken to lay the headstone down, this is carried out firstly using a coucil employees steel toe capped boot. The use of this equipment ensures that the memorial is damaged so much that we have to throw it in a skip. Those that are so sturdy not to break will be knocked down by JCB diggers when the developers move in.

Although we try to minimise the number of headstones being laid down in our cemeteries, we need money and land value is high in Sheffield, blame the HSE its all there fault, really (another link with a 404 error inserted here).

What happens next?

If you are the guy burried in the grave or a relative of the guy in the grave, it is your responsibility to ensure that the stone is refitted by a Monumental Mason (a mate of the guy who smashes them all up). We will then proceed to smash up your new grave unless you can satisfy our impossible demand for Red Tape. Then we will send in the developers.

For your own safety, please do not attempt to re-erect the memorial yourself, as most of it is in the bottom of a skip. Should you find your memorial we must advise super glue doesn't work well on stone so the stone will have to be desecrated further should you attempt such action.

Bereavement Services are currently discussing this issue with Monumental Masons to agree a cut for which they get paid for each stone we get them to make, to maximise the profits involved and cover the expenses of the grave smasher.

If you do own a grave in a City Council managed cemetery and we do not have a current contact address on file, please contact Bereavement Services and we will update our records with city council efficiency (if you know what that means, Ha! suckers!)

100%behind you how can people be killed in cemetrys they are private places no body apart from the relatives ,the problem is the council security. these places are sacred,why do they employ a caretaker iff he canot do his job

no stwar, its the coucil knocking them all over

pete1024
your imagination has took one giant leap

is there any truth in the rumour that there are plans to build executive housing on Rivlin cemetary

yes but iff the council protected the cemetrys proppley then nobody could get in and hurt themselves

Try this link and the one within that thread to see the same arguments about protecting human life versus preserving gravestones:

Earlier thread on gravestones (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7060&highlight=gravestones)

if its a new government ( eec ) rule that all headstones must have metal bolt inserts then how are they proposing to fund the couple of million war graves that come under their
juristiction ? ( uk war graves commission ) all quiet on that front !

already bolted dont panic mr mannering

Many of the headstones laid now re'fixed. Whats wrong does know one in sad sheffield like a good news story. Sorry like the star thinks bad news sells, even if it scares the old and vunerable in society

The same happened in my church Elescar C of E Barnsley,our son's memorial cross was smashed & several grave stones,windows & a childs toys were damaged & stolen.The morons who do this would feel bad if someone did it to there relatives graves,I had a big argument with the vicar at the time,about security,lighting etc: but he said we should only put flowers down at the graves,I was not pleased our local paper came to see me & I told them the vicar lived in the past,a few floodlights put up with PIR & that scares most of them off,but he said they were too expensive,I said £8.99 at B&Q & I would buy them & have a path repaired,but he declined saying lights would only encourage more vandals,thank God he has left because the guy did not seem to care.It is time the councils & police did more to stop this mindless vandalism.

Anyone seen the general cemetary near ecclesall road?
That place really spooks me cos most if not all the gravestones in there are hundreds of years old.. plenty of them flat on the floor too, but that must be due to them being as old as they are.

My Grandad (died before I was born) is buried in Burngreave Cemetry. Many years ago my mum got a phone call about the headstone being dangerous. When they visited,the entire gave (headstone & sorround) had gone.... & guess what?? No'one knew where or why it had been moved. I've been to City Road , the Archives & spoke to someone at the Burngreave Cemetry but without success.

i think its because a kid was messing about in a cemetery and an headstone fell on him and killed him.

no body noticed most old stones toppled back up.is everyone out there blind or just negative.

i think its because a kid was messing about in a cemetery and an headstone fell on him and killed him.
That is exactly why they do it, and I bet the people who are angry about the grave stones been laid flat, would be the first ones to slate the council if a grave stone hadn't been lad and killed a young kid.

'I'm sure you'd agree that it's better for the headstones to be laid flat than to fall and kill some unsuspecting person.'

In that case cars should be banned as they kill more people each year than a gravestone. The council are doing this mainly for fear of being prosecuted. Its a knee jerk reaction simple as. That lad that was killed by a gravestone was an unfortunate accident but why was he messing around in a graveyard in the first place?

Until we start admitting that freak accidents do happen it will get worse. Had to laugh the other day coming out of Macro. There was a woman standing there telling people to mind the one inch ramp. Wrap me up in cotton wool plz! :loopy:

I don’t know what the by-laws and regulations regarding grave ownership in Sheffield are, but here in Manchester grave plots in Council-owned cemeteries are sold. I currently own my family’s, and I’m hoping to be the last to occupy it! Had a word with my legal advisors when I made my will, and apparently I can pass the ownership to a relative even though the grave will be full.

If the council ever decides that gravestones are unsafe, or they want to remove headstones to grass the entire cemetery, they have to contact the owner, whoever it is, and consult with them first. So, if this legal responsibility exists in Sheffield I would think plot owners in this particular cemetery will have been informed, and have made decisions.

This isn't just a Sheffield thing. I'm originally from a small town in Warwickshire, and the council there went through the same process of large-scale tipping of gravestones to see if they were "stable". Maybe it's some directive that's been passed down from on high.