Gorton
Cemetery

Gorton Cemetery, Thornwood Ave, opened Thursday 26th July 1900.

​

Manchester Parks and Cemeteries committee discussed the need for a Public Cemetery to cover the areas of Gorton, Openshaw, Longsight and Droylsden 12th Feb 1891 saying the need was urgent.  1st May 1891 Manchester City Council entered into negotiations with Mr Bridgford for the purchase of a plot of 32 acres of land that was offered for the purposes of a Cemetery, with a Mortuary and Chapel with boundary walls being built at the cost of £15,000.

​

For the opening Ceremony, all met at Council Offices Hyde Road and the Procession proceeded to the Cemetery headed by the band of St Joseph's Industrial School.  The Chairman of the Council Mr M. Bushell, Chairman of Cemetery Committee Mr Hugh Dean, Clerk Mr. Samuel Berry, other members of Council and ex-members of technical Instruction Committee, Council Workmen and leading Residents of the District attended.

​

Chairman of the Cemetery Committee Mr Hugh Dean opened the Cemetery

by opening the Gates with a Golden Key which had been presented to him,

followed by a prayer offered by Rev. Thomas Armstrong (Baptist). 

​

The Procession then marched around the grounds, as hymn 'O'God,

Our Help In Ages Past' was sung. This was followed by a short service

by Rev. T. Armstrong, Rev. John Williams and Rev. George Evans.

Above Right:

Non Conformist Chapel

Left:

Catholic Chapel

​

Above Right:

Gorton Chapels

Right:

Church of England Chapel

Engine Driver & Stoker Killed 1909                                                   An accident occurred on with a Midland Railway train by their goods express which left Bedford on Thursday 4th February at about 3.20am. Arthur Coope, engine driver and John W. Hawley, stoker, both from Gorton were killed, when their goods express from Manchester ran into a Bedford to Birmingham goods train. Engine Driver Alcock stated at an inquest held 8th February that they were stopped at Sharnbrook and were shunted to the upper passenger line to allow a train to pass.  A hand signal was given to him by a signalman to go forward to the station platform upon doing this he realised the signalman who was still signalling to ‘go forward’ was wrong, as it was the wrong line.  He proceeded to reverse as fast as possible sending his stoker/fireman forward with a red light to get in front of the train and place the red light there when he got passed the pints. The stoker/fireman seeing another train approaching at speed scrambled up the embankment and was struck on the back by something. At the same time another train was passing on the down goods line and possibly obstructed the signalman’s view. Alcock’s stoker/fireman said he was sent forward to meet the Manchester train at the home signal, which was down and the train was travelling at about fifty miles an hour.  The district superintendent it was clear that the signalman omitted to pull the crossing points on the down line.    The inquest Jury found that the collision was caused by an error of judgment on the part of the signalman and was not guilty of manslaughter.                                                                        Funerals of both men took place at Gorton Cemetery on the 10th February 1909 and were interred in plot J Non Conformist 31.  A memorial stone was erected by their fellow workmen.

GORTON CEMETERY WAR GRAVES

April 1926 Commonwealth War Graves commission applied to Manchester Parks and Cemeteries Committee for, and was granted, a piece of land for a War Memorial within the Cemetery.

9 Nov 1926 the War Memorial erected to the workers at Belle Vue Zoological Gardens who fell in the War was unveiled.  It was a simple service attended by over two thousand people.

The memorial, an allegorical composition executed by Mr F. W. Blundstone, with names of the fallen inscribed on scrolls and was unveiled by Mr Angelo Jennison and dedicated by Rev W. Scott Adams. A minutes silence was observed followed by the buglers of 3rd company Manchester Battalion. B.L.B. sounded the last post.  At the close of service Wreaths were laid.

​

​

Above:

Lieut. Samuel Davison D.C.M

Pilot Royal Air Force

Killed while Flying in Kent

Nov 30th 1918

Aged 28 yrs.

​

Right:

Memorial to

WW1 & WW 2 

Servicemen buried in Gorton Cemetery & Brookfield Church

​

Above & Left:

War Memorial

1914-1918

1939-1945

Left:

An Oak Tree planted in memoriam

to those who lost their lives in the Covid19 Pandemic.