Westbury on Severn Burial Grounds/Churchyard (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Monday, October 29, 2012, 01:40 (4196 days ago) @ ritpetite

Hi Rita,
now I'm NO authority on Westbury Church or it's Burial Grounds but I think this is the situation as far as I can make out online. I don't know what site you refer to, or where you got the 1905 date from, so apologies if this is "old news" to you.

The Church Burial Grounds are managed by the Parish Council, see this website.
http://www.westburyonsevernpc.org.uk/
(If you contact them maybe someone will assist you ?).

I say plural as the site states
" The Parish Council is the burial authority that provides and manages the graveyard in Westbury-on-Severn. It is also responsible for maintaining the closed churchyard (i.e., closed to further burials) around the Church of St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Mary in Westbury.”

So yes it seems your ancestors may well be in the newer Burial Ground given your 1905 date.

Please now use this site to get an aerial view of the Village;
http://www.maplandia.com/united-kingdom/england/south-west/gloucestershire-county/westb...

First select "map" NOT "satellite", then zoom into the village just "above" the River.
You'll see the Church and surrounding Churchyard "below" the main A48 road, shown as a grey area between Bell Lane and the Water Garden.
Looking left/west where the road bends is a second more rectangular grey area.
Now select "satellite" to switch to aerial photo mode.

If you zoom-in I think you'll agree the second grey area is the newer and more neatly laidout Burial Ground, so altho' detached slightly from the Church it's still within the Village only a short stroll away. I think this is where Slowhands is thinking of.

I've seen an aerial photo taken back in 1976, this newer Burial Ground is visible then albeit less populated.
http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Newnham/Westbury-upon-severn-village.htm

For many more photos of the interesting old Church with it's separate Tower, this BBC site has several.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/content/image_galleries/westbury_church_gallery.shtml

I hope this helps, Jeff.