the history of Tunstall Cemetery

the history of Tunstall Cemetery

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Historian Fred Hughes writes....

The Victorian’s had a liking for putting loads of detail on their gravestones. They wanted the living to know how high they’d climbed the ladder of success as aldermen, as commercial icons and pillars of society. And no one held a higher position in the community than the publican.

“My grandfather, Charles Henry Riley, was the innkeeper of the Swan Hotel in Burslem for many years,” says local businessman David Riley. “He was the king of his castle at the hub of the town and everybody conformed accordingly. Regulars were favoured while troublemakers knew better than to ask for admittance.

The local police used his backroom each afternoon for private sessions. The local barber called round to cut his hair and groceries were delivered to his door. He had a parrot each end of the bar one of which was named Joey that repeated everything it heard. ‘Is Norman in?’ customers teased. Norman was my dad. And Joey would repeat – ‘Is Norman in?’ Sometimes rude words were repeated. But my grandfather loved that parrot. The only time I saw my grandfather cry was when the parrot died.”

For the traditional publican the licensed trade was a job for life and the pub was the family home. Keeping a good house was something to be proud of and David’s grandfather was good at it. He dressed the part and customers called him Gentleman Charles.

In Tunstall Cemetery these tenants of the taverns are clustered together around the main entrance.

“I’m not entirely certain whether this was by device or desire,” says Tunstall historian Don Henshall. “Certainly there seems to be a large gathering of publicans here in the old part of the cemetery.

It’s really amazing to see how many are listed – Arthur Rigby of the Wheatsheaf, Edwin Bloor of the Dog and Pheasant. Luckily the Wheatsheaf is still standing. But many of the others have disappeared in Tunstall’s changing face; the Plough Inn, the Black Horse, the Prince of Wales and the Bridge Inn. Where are they now? Where were they then?”

I rub my eyes in disbelief to find that Don is right. Eleven graves in a row as though they’d all been lined-up for one final glorious happy hour.

“Arthur Rigby who died in 1937, was pretty special from all accounts,” Don continues. “He was so popular the patrons had a mosaic front doorstep laid out in memory of him. And it’s still there.”

Here lie publicans and poets; the famous and the not-so-famous; side by side in death.

“Tunstall cemetery is really unique,” says historian Steve Birks. “It lies on the eastern slope of Chatterley Valley and is so steep that you wonder how the graves manage to cling to the side. I mean they’re all laid level which means that often one end is tilted so much higher to accommodate the sheer landfall. But this lends a lot to its charm.”

Graves clinging to the side of Chatterley Valley

Tunstall Cemetery was settled on part of an ancient piece of land known as Tunstall Farm in 1868.

“The Sneyd family were the owners of about 1250 acres in the manor of Tunstall in the 18th century,” Steve continues. “This included Holly Wall Farm and Tunstall Farm at Clay Hills, north-west of Tunstall. We know that in 1830 Tunstall Farm was in the occupation of a Mary Younge and the land on the east side of the farm was in the ownership of the Smith Childe family of Newfield Hall. Seven acres of Tunstall Farm were sold to Mr Robert Williamson, coal and ironmaster, who opened Goldendale ironworks with his brother Hugh Henshall Williamson in the 1840s.”

In addition to the regularly apportioned Anglican, Catholic and Non-Conformists, there is these days, a delightful corner that is being used by Tunstall’s large Muslim community; evidence of the town’s cultural assimilation even when life is done.

the graves of Father Welch and Father Ryan

“The Catholic quarter is headed by two famous priests, Father Welch and Father Ryan. Ryan was held in great esteem throughout North Staffordshire. Legend has it that when he died in 1951, his funeral procession was five miles long bringing the district to a stand still in an amazing show of respect and affection. His genius seemed to be in getting the community involved, a tribute to his energy in constructing the inspiring Church of the Sacred Heart in Queens Avenue Tunstall.”

Another special resting place is that of Hortense Daman Clews, a wartime heroine and concentration camp survivor who received many honours for her bravery during the Second World War.

“As a child of 13 Hortense was working for the Belgium Resistance as a go-between behind the lines in her home town of Leuvan and giving shelter to allied airmen,” explains Steve.

“In 1944, her family were betrayed and Hortense was sent to the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp where she was subjected to many bestial privations. Liberated by Russians, Hortense made her way back home where she met her husband, Sergeant Sydney Clews, from Tunstall. The couple married and came to England in 1945, Sydney died in 1994.”

Hortense Daman Clews

more on Tunstall cemetery

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