Hi to list, I wonder if there is a cemetery at St Leonards? and if there is a register of those buried there? If so is it possible to obtain information concerning individuals? I would appreciate any help here. Thanks, Neil Kenyon French Lick, IN

St. Leonard's has two cemeteries at the Church, Doreen can give you info on them. Joan Hi to list, I wonder if there is a cemetery at St Leonards? and if there is a register of those buried there? If so is it possible to obtain information concerning individuals? I would appreciate any help here. Thanks, Neil Kenyon French Lick, IN ==== ENG-LAN-MIDDLETON Mailing List ==== Please ensure the "subject" reflects the contents of your message http://www.vmims.com/middleton.htm

Hi Neil, The graveyards around St Leonards Church are not very straightforward! I will try to explain.... Graveyards 1, 2 and 3 belong to the church - number 3 being across the pathway in a separate area. There are memorial inscriptions available for 1 and 2 (kept at the library in handwritten notes but I also have a copy at home). I am currently checking these with the entries from the PRs as some of the names/ages are incorrect (due to damaged and faded headstones). These MIs are also on film at some libraries and LDS centres (Owens MSS). Number 3 graveyard has not been previously indexed, and the church only have details of the very later burials. I am making a chart of the grave occupants whilst indexing the burials. This will still be an incomplete record as currently, only about 1 in 10 burial entries in the registers have the plot numbers. We are hoping to improve on this by checking with any surviving headstones once the indexing is finished. (There are over 2000 graves in this area). Surrounding the number 3 graveyard - is the Old Cemetery (or Middleton and Thornham Burial Ground). There are thousands more graves here, and it was used like an ordinary cemetery for the people in and around Middleton. The majority of these people did not have a burial service at St Leonards. The records for these are kept at Rochdale Cemetery, but recently Middleton Library have on loan, microfiche containing all the burials, in date order - these too, are being indexed. The Old Cemetery area is very difficult in most parts to search for graves. The outer parts being on steep slopes, and mostly overgrown with grass. If anyone is contemplating a search in these areas - I would suggest you go in pairs, and with a mobile phone. Its very easy to fall or trip over - I`ve had a few minor accidents myself! After all this (sorry for the length of the email), I can check to see whether there are any relevant people buried in Middleton. Please remember though, the indexing is far from complete at this stage. Doreen. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.586 / Virus Database: 371 - Release Date: 12/02/2004