Even after the building of St. Cross Church in 1877, interments continued to take place in Tring. However, with the forming of the Rural and Parish Councils during 1894, great strides were made to improve conditions not only in the towns but also in the country districts. The provision of allotments, repairs to our side roads, sanitation, and high on the agenda for Wilstone, a burial ground.
From the early minute books of the Tring Parish Council we learn of a Public Meeting held on the 12th of March 1895 in Wilstone's School Room, when the question of a burial ground was "to be considered" and from this meeting it was agreed that the three Wilstone members, Mr William Cartwright, Mr Walter Edwards, and Mr Thomas French, be appointed to select a site.
But on the llth of June, Mr French could only report that his committee had not as yet found a site and suggested that the inhabitants of Wilstone should be consulted.
This led to a further Public Meeting on the 9th of July, and from this meeting it was agreed by all that the most suitable site was an acre on Wilstone Hill belonging to Lord Rothschild in the occupation of Henry Woodman, at the corner of the road leading to Marsworth.
The Wilstone members were authorised to approach Lord Rothschild regarding the purchase of this land for a burial site. An answer was quickly received, for on the 13th of July the clerk reported that Lord Rothschild was only too pleased to give the land applied for, and he was warmly thanked for this very kind offer.
By the 10th of November, Mr French could report that trial bore holes had been dug and the results proved satisfactory, the cost of digging being 13/-(shillings).
It was also during December 1895 that an Inspector from the Home Office visited the site, and it was then left for Dr Cruggen, the Medical Officer o Health, to give his approval.
By January 1896 a letter had been received from the Home Office sanctioning the site, and requesting a plan showing the division of the consecrated and unconsecrated portions. From the meeting that followed, it was proposed by Mr Edwards, seconded by Mr Cartwright, that the ground be equally divided, but the consecrated piece should be on the western section, Wilstone Hill side. Lord Rothschild should be informed of the Council's decision.
Within the month letters were received, both from the Home Office and Lord Rothschild agreeing to the plan, Lord Rothschild expressing his view that he would prefer to have the burial ground enclosed by a "Quick or Holly Hedge" protected by a post and rail fence.
Acting upon these instructions, Mr Huckvale, the Rural District Council's Surveyor, was instructed to prepare a plan and estimate to include a lych gate and tool house, for which a sketch would be submitted at the next meeting. Mr Huckvale was also surveyor for the Rothschild Estates.
| Lych Gate and Tool House,Dwarf Walls, Pitch Pine and Red Tiles | £100.00.00 |
| Forming Paths, taking out ground, gravelling and rolling, etc | 15.14.00 |
| Fencing on all four sides, with larchand four rail fence posts | 63.00.00 |
| Grubbing up old hedge on two sides, trenching and planting Myrobelia plum Hedge all round | 8.00.00 |
| Wire netting, fixed to fence all round 3 foot high 2 inch mesh | 4.00.00 |
| Sowing grass seed in places over the site say | 1.00.00 |
| Architect | 15.00.00 |
| Sundries remaining: | |
| Compensation to tenants, Tools, Hand Bier, Registers, Legal Expenses, Conservation Expenses | 70.00.00 |
| ------------ 276.14.00 |
It was proposed that the estimate be adopted and steps would be taken to borrow such a sum not exceeding £300, the loan to be for 30 years.
Over the following two years the question of raising this money caused some concern. The Local Government Board having been approached sent an inspector to the village, and a Parish Meeting was held on 20th of January 1897 Rienzi Walton Esq. M.Int. C.E. was the inspector appointed and the inquiry was held in the school room, Wilstone on Wednesday the twentieth day of January 1897 From this meeting however it was stated that, although the Board would advance the required sum, it could only be for a period of 20 years and, after much deliberation, this was not accepted by the Council. The clerk then contacted the Prudential Assurance for a loan at 31/2%, but he had to report at the next meeting that the Prudential had declined to proceed further.
However, a 31/4% loan for 30 years had been offered by the Blackburn Philanthropic Burial Society, through the Manchester & County Banking Company, and it was unanimously agreed that this should be accepted.
During the following months the preparation of the ground had been completed, and Mr Woodman could report the sowing of grass seed during May. At this meeting also the builders' tenders on the land was discussed and it was decided the frame of the lych gate should be of oak, which would raise the cost of the building by about £15. TENDERS RECEIVED
Mr Gregory's tender was accepted and this was signed on the 14th of September 1897.
Other requisites for the burial ground were purchased from Mr Hare, Wheelwright Of Pear Tree Cottage For £3.1.9 and Mr Goodson, the village blacksmith, supplied the tools, his bill being £1.6.2.
The position of caretaker was advertised and two village inhabitants applied, Mr John King and Mr William Maple (caretaker of the local St Cross Hall). who was accepted. It was unanimously resolved that his wages should be "paid at the rate of 3.1/2 pence per hour, or two shillings and sixpence per day" and that "At all time he should take instructions from the Wilstone members".
The clerk,, Mr Vaisey, solicitor from Tring, would arrange for the printing of the proposed regulations with the table of fees after the approval had been received from the Home Office.
Mr Poulton's (printer of Tring) charge for 150 copies of the regulations was £1.1.6.
During the early months of 1898 a number of letters had passed between the Parish Council and the Church Authorities regarding the consecration of the burial ground. The clerk reported that fees for this would be £11.14.0, but this had been refunded by Mr J G Williams Of Pendley, the Rev. S W Tidsdale, Vicar of Tring, the Rev. R W Rowdon, and himself. Thanking them for their kindness, the Chairman also expressed his thanks to Mr Williams for the gift of shrubs and gravel. These had been purchased from Messrs Lane & Sons Of Berkhamsted for £2.8.0.
August 1898, however, saw the completion of this ground on Wilstone Hill, and during that month the Right Rev John Wogan Festing, Bishop of St Albans, visited Wilstone to consecrate the Church of England section. As far as one can trace, the first time a bishop had set foot in the village.
Returning to the old Parish Council records, during 1923 more gravel was needed to repair the paths, 10 tons in all, and it is interesting to note that the price had then risen to 5/- per ton.
The authorities about this time were making enquiries regarding the plan of the burial ground, together with the keeping of the register. This register dating from 1898 is still in use and, when checking in 1996, I found to my surprise that, between 1898 and 1996, 347 interments had taken place.
Moving on to 1978 the question arose regarding the dangerous corner on Wilstone Hill, and the problems, with the increasing amount of traffic, when stopping at the Lych Gate entrance, and the decision was taken to provide a new opening on Wilstone Hill.
With more cremations a small area of rest has been set aside where ashes can be buried, and provision made for a small plate marking the spot.
This short history would not be complete without mention once again of our first Caretaker, Mr Maple. He carried out his duties until the year of his death in 1936, never receiving more than £3 per month, with a few shillings extra for grave digging. Today grass covers the paths, which he took so much trouble to maintain, but the Parish Council has been fortunate over the years and,unlike many of the graveyards around our ancient churches, the grass and hedges are regularly trimmed, a credit to those who carry out this work; and with a seat conveniently placed with the picturesque view of the reservoirs, makes it fitting place of rest for those many old residents whose names are now, perhaps, forgotten, but I am sure included many who did so much to shape the village that we live in today.
The links below will take you back to St. Cross Home Page, The diary for 2002 and the history of the village.
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