Dear sir / madam,

In light of the discovery of a mass grave containing stillborn babies in Royton Cemetery, Oldham, and the discovery of mass graves containing stillborn babies in Landican, Wirral, please could you provide localised details for the following:

*Number of mass (unmarked) graves containing still born babies

*Number of still born babies buried in mass (unmarked) graves

*Date of earliest mass (unmarked) grave

*Date of last mass (unmarked) grave

In addition, please can you state whether or not burial records for these mass graves are available online.

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/where-is-my-b...

Yours faithfully,

Chris Chambers

FOI, Burnley Borough Council

This is an automated email- please do not reply

We have received your freedom of information request. You should expect a
response within 20 working days.

Kind regards,

Burnley Council

FOI
FOI
Town Hall

Ext -----
01282 425011

[1]burnley council's [2]white ribbon [3]carbon literacy
website accredited award

Burnley Council, Town Hall, Manchester Road, Burnley, Lancashire. BB11 9SA
Our terms and disclaimers apply to this email and any attachments.
[4]For full details, see our terms and disclaimer.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.burnley.gov.uk/
2. https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/
3. https://carbonliteracy.com/
4. https://www.burnley.gov.uk/terms-and-dis...

Ian Evenett, Burnley Borough Council

Chris Chambers,

 

Questions

• Number of mass (unmarked) graves containing stillborn babies
• Number of stillborn babies buried in mass (unmarked) graves
• Date of earliest mass (unmarked) grave
• Date of last mass (unmarked) grave
• In addition, please can you state whether or not burial records for
these mass graves are available online.

 

Answers

We do not have ‘Mass Graves’ at Burnley Cemetery.  Burnley Cemetery does
have Public Graves.  A Public Grave is an unpurchased grave where no
Exclusive Right of Burial exists.  There is usually no family connection
between those buried in a Public Grave.  No memorial rights are granted in
respect of Public Graves, and therefore no headstone or memorial may be
placed upon them.

• Unable to answer
• Unable to answer
• The earliest date of a Public Grave being opened in Burnley Cemetery
is 5^th June 1856 for the interment of a 1-year-old child.
• Date of last Public Grave – opened 28.08.24 for the interment of
Foetal Remains arranged by the hospital on the behalf of the parents. 
• Although our records are online it would not be possible to search for
individual public graves. 

 

You may, if dissatisfied with the treatment of your request, ask the
council to conduct a review of its decision under the council's complaints
procedure. The review will be carried out by someone who has not been
involved in dealing with your request for information. Please e-mail or
write if you would like a review.

If, following the review, you remain dissatisfied with the council's
treatment of your request then you may take your complaint to the
Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 5AF.

 

Thanks

 

Ian Evenett

Information Governance Officer (Finance and Property)

 

 

Ian Evenett
Internal Audit Manager
Finance and Property

Ext 01282 477175
01282 425011

[1]burnley council's [2]white ribbon [3]carbon literacy
website accredited award

Burnley Council, Town Hall, Manchester Road, Burnley, Lancashire. BB11 9SA
Our terms and disclaimers apply to this email and any attachments.
[4]For full details, see our terms and disclaimer.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.burnley.gov.uk/
2. https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/
3. https://carbonliteracy.com/
4. https://www.burnley.gov.uk/terms-and-dis...