"A considerable time has necessarily elapsed since the Longton Town Council resolved upon providing a cemetery for the borough, in order that the old burial-grounds might be closed. Much difficulty was experienced in procuring a suitable site, and, after a great degree of anxious thought, the committee appointee for the purpose secured about 22 acres of the Spring Garden estate belonging to Mr. J. H. Edwards-Heathcote, the lord of the manor, the price paid for it being £500 an acre....

.... The portion of the land—a little over five acres—to the left of the main drive has been allotted as the Church of England burial-ground, -the upper portion to the east being for the Nonconformists, and the lower portion, for the Roman Catholics. Mr. Hardwicke has designed two mortuary chapels, which are to be erected by Messrs. Rawley and Lynex, of "Walsall, whose contract is £2,400.....

.... On Thursday afternoon the Cemetery was formally "opened" with some little ceremony. Some of the borough, magistrates, clergy and ministers of the town, members of the Corporation, and borough, officials met the Mayor at the Court House at three o'clock, and walked in procession to the Cemetery gates. On their arrival there. Alderman CARRYER made a few remarks complimentary to the Mayor, and congratulated his worship that the great work of providing a Cemetery had so far progressed that it was now ready to be thrown open for public use......

...... It was truly a great undertaking, which had involved much labour and anxiety. But it was not the first great work which had been carried out in the borough. As instancing the public spirit of Longton, he mentioned the erection of a splendid market ball, the construction more recently of 20 miles of sewers, and the purchase of the gas works, from which the town would be materially benefited. Having thus provided for the comfort and welfare of the living, it was but right that they should turn their attention to the decent interment of the dead. He alluded to the increase of population, the overcrowded state of the old burial-places, and the necessity which had been felt for providing  cemetery; and said it was satisfactory to find that the work had so far been successfully carried out. He then, as chairman of the Cemetery Committee, presented to the Mayor a massive key made of 18-carat gold, for the purpose of opening the gates. He observed that the handle of the key (formed of a Staffordshire knot) was emblematical of the county in which Longton was situated. On one side of the key the borough arms were depicted, and on the other there was an inscription expressive of the sincerity and respect with which the committee and Council provided the Mayor with the key."