The Wesleyan Methodist graveyard in Oakworth is known as the Dockroyd Graveyard.

In January 2019 the work to restore the graveyard began, initiated by Andrew Heaton. This short video shows some of the problems and the work that was necessary.

Browse our range of books for information from the Sexton’s notebooks and graveyard history. Our latest books cover the history of the local stonemasons, and the meaning of the iconography they created on the headstones themselves.

All the books are available as E books, which don’t have any postage costs and are available on the shop page to download for anyone anywhere in the world.

About Dockroyd Graveyard & Trust

The trust was formed in January 2020, with Andrew Heaton as chairman, in order to continue the restoration, preservation, improvement, maintenance and conservation of Dockroyd Graveyard and to advance education in the graveyard and an understanding of the history and heritage of the graveyard. On the news page you can read about everything that has been happening recently.

As part of this project there are several books including, Dockroyd Live that has many of the stories that Andrew Heaton has researched and the History Makers that includes stories about some of the influential families in the graveyard. There are also several ebooks containing specific information from the sextons’ registers and burials records. You can find out more here. Over the past few years we have also collected more information, and had some information corrected , by people researching their family histories and using the website. This extra information can be found in the stories section. If you have pictures or stories that might add to the information we already have, please contact us.

Following its formal closure the graveyard, after the last internment in 1969, had slid into decline, overrun with self-seeded trees, ivy and brambles. In 2006 the Church sold it to a property developer who in cutting down trees demolished many of the headstones. His actions caused considerable damage and Andrew Heaton’s intention when he purchased the graveyard as a private individual was to try and remedy the situation by restoring the graveyard and securing its future then handing it over to the local community. He has succeeded in this aim and the graveyard is now owned by the trust.

At the start it was very difficult to get into the graveyard through the entrance on Chapel Lane. Over a hundred blue dumpy bags full of building waste blocked the entrance and had to be removed from site to satisfy legal requirements.

Andrew and John on a dumper moving rubble — Andrew and John moving some of the rubble

That proved to be the easy bit! When the first volunteer stepped into the “jungle” he and his dog were lost in the ivy ! They could be heard thrashing about but they could not be seen. After a day’s hard labour the first gravestone was revealed. It was an eye-opener as to how much work was going to be involved. The ivy was draped over the the headstones like a giant net firmly fixed to the ground by roots as thick as your forearm, only the granite headstones had been able to resist the ivy. With a vice-like grip the ivy wrapped itself around anything and everything, woven tightly like a wicker basket. Great care was needed not to damage the delicate engravings, so each headstone was cleared like lifting a bonnet off a baby’s head. If the ivy didn’t get you the brambles would with their sharp thorns drawing blood whenever they had the opportunity.

Stuart taking Ivy off a headstone. — Stuart removing ivy off a headstone

A callout for help resulted in the very welcome arrival of reinforcements. Over the spring and summer dozens of supporters gave their time and efforts to reveal more and more. For some a day was enough, but for many the challenge was addictive. As we kept being faced with the next seemingly insurmountable obstacle someone came forward with the appropriate skills – or at least knew a man who could. Many local businesses also contributed to the project. With their help the impossible became possible. The appearance on BBC Look North registered an amazing 297,000 views.

At first the intention was to make all the headstones were safe by laying them down where necessary. The arrival of Stuart Sharp, and his lifelong experience as a master stonemason soon changed the plans. His help and guidance about how to reset leaning headstones and sunken kerbstones meant we could return many to their intended position. . Observing and learning the appropriate skills meant the target now was to stand everything up so the handiwork of the Victorian stonemasons could be appreciated.

John Sugden helping replace a fallen gravestone. — John Sugden helping to reposition a fallen gravestone

As each headstone was uncovered the desire to read the inscriptions and find out who lived there was compelling. Many personal life stories were uncovered and an understanding of how everyone fitted into this Victorian community was unravelled. The gravestones had come to life, their occupants were no longer dead and forgotten, they seemed alive and going about their daily lives.

Andrew was regularly asked if he was writing a book about the findings and it was agreed that if everyone buried here was to be truly remembered then it needed recording for posterity. And so the idea for the book was born and its title “Dockroyd Live” was soon hit upon. As time has gone on more stories have come to light, and another book, the History Makers has been written about some notable occupants of the graves. There will be more stories and more books hopefully.

Dockroyd Graveyard was the Wesleyan Methodist graveyard in Oakworth, West Yorkshire. The first burial in 1844 was a one year old boy Thomas Ickeringill and the last was 70 year old Mabel Falkingham in 1969. In the years between more than 2500 people were buried here and 572 of them were children under the age of five. There are at least 770 graves with 2500 people interred here. More than half of the graves were not recorded on a headstone and also there are many people remembered on the headstones who were not buried here. There are around 350 headstones and grave markers, many of which are double or multiple graves. There are also many unmarked graves that have required a close examination of the burial records to discover their whereabouts and occupants. Quite poignant was the discovery of a small area reserved for still born children.

Update

This photo, taken in May 2023, shows how the ongoing work the trust is doing has improved the graveyard.

the improved graveyard in 2023 — The graveyard in May 2023

The Trustees

The trustees are Andrew Heaton (chairman), Jean Sugden (secretary), Stuart Sharp, John Sugden and John Shires. The role of the trustees is to ensure that the restoration, preservation, improvement, maintenance and conservation of Dockroyd Graveyard continues. They also try to advance education in the graveyard and develop the understanding of the history and heritage of the graveyard.

John Shires the website manager with a dog. — John Shires with one of his dogs, as he couldn’t find a photo with him and his computer, John looks after the website.

The trustees are a friendly lot, and would welcome anyone who would like to join us, whether your skills are gardening, stonemasonry, finance, marketing , designing websites and social media or just loads of enthusiasm.

Please feel free to chat to any of the trustees you see about, or contact us here.