My grand parents are buried at Darkhouse and a few years ago I met the Minister and asked if he had a plan of the graves in the cemetry. He informed me that there had been a break in at some point and the plans had been stolen. He also said to me that the grounds were in such a state and unsafe that really the area should be relandscaped and the graves laid on the floor. I was saddened at this as I beleive it is essential to keep these places open and viewable especially with so many of us now researching family history. My dad was born at 25 Darkhouse Lane along with his brothers and sisters. Their name was Bennett. My Grand Mother Minnie Dudley Simms lived in the area all her life. Most of the time in Siddons Road. Another surname connection is Homer. My dad used to take me and my sister to the Chapel on the Anniversary day every year. Betty if you do not live in the area and from your email address I think you maybe are in another country would you like me to take a look around the next time I visit the area. I am planning to go and visit family in the next few weeks. Paul > From: bet.al@blueyonder.co.uk > To: eng-black-country@rootsweb.com > Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:50:52 +0000 > Subject: [Black Country] Darkhouse Chapel records > > About three years ago I wrote to Darkhouse Chapel as I know my Gt. Grandmother was buried there, in fact from papers I have it seems there was a family vault there (name - Howell). I did get a reply but was told the vaults had been filled in when restoration of the building was carried out and only three families were reburied, non apparently mine. I asked if I could go and see the records they still held but was told ‘no’, but if I gave them names they would look for me. I sent some names and they replied with just a few, but none were my relatives. I wasn’t charged for this, but I did send a donation to the church. > > Betty > ------------------------------------- > The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. > ****************************** > ATTENTION TO ALL:- When replying please remove the details that do not apply to your mail and change the SUBJECT LINE for best useage of ARCHIVED MATERIALS. > ------------------------------- > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message