Over the years several others have also been laid to rest in this plot.

 

I don't usually add my own personal information to this site, but, I had a sister who was 'Born Asleep' on 18th November 1967. She is one of those who is also buried in the same grave as Edmund Townsend.

 

Radnorshire Advertiser - 9th May 1884

Knighton -- Burial Board - This Board held its monthly meeting on Tuesday last. Amongst other business the following resolution was passed: "It having come to the knowledge of the Board that persons were in the habit of taking dogs in the cemetery, it was resolved that the first person found so offending should be prosecuted."

 

Leominster News - 7th November 1884

Knighton -- Burial Board, -- The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday. Amongst other business the following important resolution was unanimously passed. With a view to preventing the Cemetery being used as a public thoroughfare, and building materials, burdens of wood etc. being taken through. It was resolved that the gates be alternately locked for a week at a time, Sunday excepted, the gates near the Church one week, the gates near the school the following week.

 

Leominster News - 16th July 1886

KNIGHTON LOCAL BOARD.

The Clerk stated he had been requested to suggest on behalf of the Chairman (who was absent), that permission should be granted to the Burial Board to convey the water into the cemetery for the purpose of watering the flowers there. - Resolved that the matter be brought before the next meeting.

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle - 13th August 1886

KNIGHTON LOCAL BOARD.

Mr Rutter suggested that permission should be given the Burial Board to convey the water into the cemetery for the purpose of watering the flowers there. It was decided to consider the question early next spring.

 

Eddowes's Journal - 16th February 1887

KNIGHTON LOCAL BOARD.

With reference to permission being given to the Burial Board to convey water into the cemetery, as suggested by Mr Rutter in August last, when the consideration of the  question was postponed, the Board decided they could not permit the water to be taken there.

 

Eddowes's Journal - 18th April 1888

KNIGHTON LOCAL BOARD.

Cemetery Water Supply: Mr Rutter represented the desirability of permitting the Burial Board to convey water into the cemetery, for the purpose of watering the plants. It was resolved to grant permission, on the understanding that the tap be fixed in the bier-house, and used only by the Sexton.

 

Leominster News - 11th May 1888

KNIGHTON LOCAL BOARD.

The Clerk stated that the Burial Board were much obliged for the privilege of conveying water into the cemetery, but as there were difficulties in the way of putting the tap in the bier-house they hoped consent would be given it its being put outside in a wooden case with lock and key. The Board agreed to this.

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle - 8th  June 1888

KNIGHTON, BURIAL BOARD. The monthly meeting of this Board was held on Tuesday, 5th inst. Amongst other business the Clerk reported that a person had been detected getting over the Cemetery wall. Legal proceedings had been taken, and the damages claimed and costs paid before going into Court. The Board ordered that proceedings be taken against anyone getting over either of the gates or the wall, or in any way infringing the Cemetery regulations..

 

At the Local Board meeting in July 1900, Mr Williams made a motion to revise the cemetery fees. This was with regard to the increase in the charge for interment of non-parishioners. This resulted in the cost of burial of non-parishioners being fixed at £2 17s., and the purchase of a grave space at £5 10s., the latter charge being an increase of £1 1s.

 

Brecon and Radnor Express - 22nd July 1897

THE TRADE NAMES ON TOMBSTONES.  Mr William James, in accordance with notice, rose to bring forward his motion as to the names of the sculptors on tombstones. He said there seemed to be no regulation as to the size and position of the lettering. If the friends who had to pay did not take the matter up, they as a Council should not let the monuments to the dead be made a place of advertisement.  He did not want to interfere with the tradesmen or restrict any sensible notification, but common sense must tell the makers that they should not put their names in large letters in front of the stones. It would not be too much to ask that they should state where and what size of letters they intended to put their names in before the designs were passed. If the Board had power it should direct the names to be put on one side of the monument, and to be in not more than a half-inch letter.

       Mr Roberts suggested that the mason should give in the place and size of the letter when he submitted the plans.

Mr James said that was all he wanted—to avoid the makers' names being put in large letters on the front of the stones. Mr Roberts' suggestion would quite meet his views in the matter.

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Brecon and Radnor Express - 16th September 1897

KNIGHTON BURIAL BOARD

THE QUESTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE SEXTON.

A meeting of this Board was held at the close of the unitary business of the Urban Council on Wednesday, Mr E. Oldbury being in the chair.

THE CARETAKING OF THE CEMETERY.

                Mr Allcock, who had given notice to raise the question of the employment and payment of the sexton, said he had heard it said that he was going to attack the man's wages, but he had nothing against the man or the wages he received.  But there ought to be some rules different to what there were at present in force with reference to the employment of the sexton now under the control of the Council. He thought the person in charge should be under the supervision of the Council's surveyor.

                The Chairman: I am afraid that cannot be done under the Burial Boards' Act. The Surveyor has no control of the sexton in any way.

                Mr Allcock: Who has control of him then?

                 The Chairman: It is generally done by the Clerk of the Burial Board.

                The Clerk said this had always been the case.

                Mr Allcock, continuing, said the person was paid so much for the position of overlooker. He did not know why he should be allowed so much to overhaul his own work, and to say it was done right.

                The Chairman: He is only paid for interments and actual work done. He is paid £3 per year for general supervision and opening and shutting the gates.

                Mr .Allcock, continuing, said the man could not go to work without opening the gates. He thought provision was wade in other parts for payment for that. It seemed to him a waste of money to pay a man to overlook his own work. He did not see, either, why they should pay for Sunday work. It ought to be the policeman's duty to look after that. They looked after the private property in the town without being paid for it. In case of any sale of sand or grass the money should be paid over to the Chairman of the Council, and he thought the public should be given to understand that the sexton had no authority to collect any special fee for looking after graves unless some special arrangement was made. He was paid to keep the Cemetery in order, and it was part of his work to keep the graves in good repair; but the man went to people's houses and said he had called for the money for looking after the graves. He thought the money for grave-digging should be paid to the man who did it. Now so much was allowed the sexton for each interment, and he got someone else to do the work at a less cost. It was very strange to allow a man to work there, make his own time sheet up. and give no account of what he had done. The Cemetery was in good order he knew, but they paid a good price to keep it thus. He suggested that some rules should be drawn up so that they might know what was done. It was not right to engage a man and not know what he did. He wished the sexton to have a fair wage for his work, but thought it more satisfactory if proper rules were drawn up.

                The Chairman said it would have been much better if Mr Allcock had brought these things forward when the new rules were made, especially as he was on that committee. He repeated that the Council had no power to authorise the surveyor to superintend the work, neither could they instruct the police to look after the Cemetery unless they were paid for it. They had to act in accordance with the Burials Board Act. With regard to the allowance of £3 for superintendence, this was only a little over  1s. per week, which meant 2d. per day for opening and closing the gates. That was only a small remuneration after all.

                Mr Allcock: It is not put that way in the book.

                The Chairman said he was trying to explain matters, and (continuing) said damage was done in the Cemetery some 10 or 12 years ago, and in consequence a resolution was passed to have the sexton in attendance at the Cemetery. The man had since been in attendance on certain hours of the day during the summer months, for which he was paid a certain sum. He did not think he was overpaid for that.

                Mr Allcock: I did not say he was overpaid.

                Mr Tudge: The complaint is that he goes round collecting Christmas boxes.

                Mr Allcock: I did not say that.

                Mr Clee said the man ought to have a time sheet to fill in what he did. He had something to say, but it was gone too late to discuss the matter that night.

                The Chairman thought people asked the sexton to look after graves for them, and he had a perfect right to make a little charge for this, but he had no right to make any other collection.

                Mr Allcock: Have we any power to ask for tenders for the whole work for a year?  This would be more satisfactory.

                 The Chairman: Before that could be done minutes of the Burial Board must be rescinded.

                Mr Allcock: If that is necessary it must be done. They could pass one resolution rescinding all that was necessary.

                 The Chairman thought everybody was satisfied with the management of the Cemetery.

                Mr Clee said he had heard lots of complaints.

                Mr Williams: I have never heard any at all.

                Mr Lote thought it best to leave things go on as at present.

                In reply to questions the Clerk said the sexton received last year £21 15s. for day labour, £3 in addition, £6 10s. for Sundays, and interments, according to scale.

                Mr Allcock: He drew £40 from the Board last year. Besides they had to pay for tools and other things. They did not really know what the Cemetery cost them.

                 The Chairman: Oh yes, we know every item of expenditure.

                Mr Roberts (after looking through the book): £40 was all he had last year for everything including interments.

                The Chairman said the man was not overpaid, and was fully entitled to all that be received from the Board. As long as the man gave satisfaction, it would be a pity to interfere. Besides Price was now an old man, and could not be expected to do the work much longer.

                Mr Williams: I propose the matter be left as it is.

                Mr Roberts said he seconded with pleasure. Mr Allcock had not made out any case whatever. There was no case against the man or against the management of the Cemetery, and it had not even been proved that the Sexton was overpaid.

                Mr Allcock: I did not say he was.

                Mr Clee: That is not the question before the Board either.

                Mr Roberts said these interruptions were meant to throw him in the points he was referring to.  He repeated that Mr Allcock had failed to prove his case, and referring to the allegation that the sexton made a profit out of the interments, Mr Roberts maintained that this was quite fair because the sexton was the man who was responsible to the Board. The gifts at Christmas were voluntary gifts.  Perhaps some people toll him to look after graves and then forgot all about it. Price being an old man and not very shy, gave them a reminder. At Knighton  they were expected to give Christmas boxes for all sorts of thing, Price did the work at the Cemetery thoroughly well. He did work he was not obliged to, by looking after the graves of poor people, which if he did not do the Cemetery would be most unsightly. Mr Allcock had failed to prove that the cost of the management of the Cemetery was excessive.

                Mr Clee said they had had two different arguments altogether. Mr Allcock's argument was that the ratepayers had a right to know how the ratepayers money was spent, nothing about Price's salary at all. He was not in favour of cutting men's wages down, but the ratepayers had a right to know how the money was spent.

                 The Clerk: The law gives power for the ratepayers to come and examine the accounts of the Burial Board.

                Mr Allcock said Mr Roberts had referred to things he had never thought of. Whether Price got much or little was not the point, but they ought to know what he was to have, and what he was to do. The men on the streets received a standing wage, and they would not think of employing any other man on similar terms to the sexton. What was Price to do if he did not look after the graves of the poor?  What was he paid for?  He had said nothing against Price or his work, but wanted to know something definite as to what the Cemetery cost. He called it sweating if a man got 6s. for a job. and got someone else to do it for 2s. 6d.

                The Chairman said part of the sexton's duty was to shear and clip up the paupers' graves. and he thought the Man did justice to his work. He should oppose letting of the work by tender as long as he sat there. The Cemetery was a dear place to many.

                Mr Williams: It would be a disgrace to the town to let the work by tender.

                After further discussion Mr Allcock withdrew this proposal, and Mr Clee proposed that the sexton should keep a time sheet, stating the hours he was engaged and the nature of the work done. Mr Allcock seconded, and this was agreed to.  Mr Williams and Mr Roberts consenting to it being added to their proposal.

 

Shrewsbury Chronicle 15 June 1906

Knighton Urban Council - Mr. Williams proposed, and it was agreed that the two gates of the Cemetery be left unlocked every day from the usual hour in the morning until light-up time at night, for a period of two months, as a trial. At present only one gate is unlocked on week-days, and this is found very inconvenient to residents and others who are in the town for short periods on certain days.

​

Kington Times -19th August 1944

In regard to the proposed extension to the cemetery, the Clerk said he had written the inhabitants of 51 houses situate within 100 yards of the proposed cemetery extension, and asked for objections (if any). Seventy-seven persons (i.e., 85.6 per cent.) consented to the proposal and 13 objected. Mr. Fowler had had 10 holes bored in the land but had found no water. The proposed extension was larger than the present cemetery and it was calculated that at the present burial rate it would serve the town as a cemetery for 150 years. It was stated in discussion that the objectors did not understand that they could only object to the extension and not the cost of the land or Vicarage. The Clerk was asked to write to the objectors and explain the matter more fully, also to ask the representative body to price the land, so as to report to the next meeting. It was stated that the Council would at a later date decide what use they would make of the Vicarage.

 

Kington Times - 24th February 1945

A letter was received from the Committee stating that the Council's offer for the proposed extension to the cemetery had been recommended to the proper authority for acceptance.

 

Kington Times - 15th September 1945

The proposed extension of the cemetery by the acquisition of the Vicarage and grounds was considered. It was decided that the Vicarage would be used for Council purposes, and that the Council apply for a loan for £3.500 to cover all costs.

 

Kington Times - 19th January 1946

Considerable discussion took place on the proposed cemetery extension by the purchase of the Vicarage grounds, consequent on a letter from the Welsh Board of Health intimating that the Council could not use the grounds for that purpose so long as anyone objected within the 100 yard dwelling radius. After some discussion, Mr. Prince's proposal that the Council proceed to complete the purchase was carried by 8 votes to 4.

 

Kington Times - 21st September 1946

When Knighton Urban Council met last week it was  stated that the Vicarage and grounds would become the property of the Council on September 30th. Some of the grounds and buildings would be available for occupation by the Council on that date, but the vicarage itself would be leased to the representative body for three years, and for a further 12 months if required. It was not thought there would be any difficulty in providing a suitable house for the Vicar.