Huthwaite Cemetery

Rapidly filling the old combined Sutton parishioners churchyard surrounding St Mary's realised individual demands for seeking future burial grounds. Graves recognising a few nonconformist Hucknall Huthwaite residents finds alternative use of Blackwell and Mansfield grounds, before our emerging township adopted its own Local Board in 1873 with powers and new responsibilities for advancing modern village services.

Rumours suggest some consideration was given for siting the required graveyard below Blackwell Road, adjacent Little Lane. Land was made available however stretching the eastern boundary towards Sutton, remotely edging the village atop its main highway. The opening of that two acre plot by the local Board does not appear gaining any official celebration. Dated at 1889 among gazetteers, that may have marked full completion of a mortuary chapel. Nonetheless, the first 18 actual burials are found registered in year 1888.

Despite presenting a rather morbid postcard scene we can thank H.G. Owston for this historic view of the recently opened cemetery grounds completed by the building of its picturesque central mortuary chapel.

Last captured in background from celebrations held upon the Welfare Park, the disused chapel was later demolished. Intended purpose was generally aiding all village funerals, but strong traditions religiously upheld between methodist factions and our later parish church eventually fueled proud beliefs it only served pauper burials.

Clerk for the Local Board was George Hudson Hibbert of Mansfield. He retained position as burial clerk when they in 1894 established the Huthwaite Urban District Council. Named under their employ came our first cemetery keeper, William Pickaver Hardy. Presumably he gained a working residence in this original keepers house still fronting the main cemetery entrance off Sutton Road. Coming from a notably long line of Hucknall-under-Huthwaite residents, relatives do recall ancestral disproval when taking this position. Yet he gains entry among dated gazetteers, importantly fulfilling a necessary role which in 1912 is claimed by W. Ramsell before the jump into 1941 identifies an Arthur Evans.

Prudently in 1912 an additional 1½ acres was offered Huthwaite cemetery grounds. Since its opening rapid residential expansion had quickly formed an adjacent Lime Avenue. Building fashionably continued growth eastward into newer streets, but when totalling 3½ acres this could accommodate an emerging town. Availability of land came from selling off the farm house adjoining Mill Lane. Photographed below by its owner, a son of whom was the same William Pickaver Hardy who'd kept the burial grounds.

Thanks to Mrs Eileen Wallace also sharing evidence that this was indeed the originally addressed Mill House. Comparably shot 2003 finds a well used cemetery provided a second access below Mill Lane.

Rev. Hezekiah A K Hawkins

Reverend Hawkins was born 1859 at Thanet in Kent. Year 1871 finds him living in Margate and ten years later the 21 year old is a student at St. Mark's College, London. In the late 1880's he is resident in Huthwaite, and he officiated at three of the first four cemetery funerals in 1888. They were namely Mrs. Mary Oxley on the 26th of May and her new born daughter three days later, followed in July by Gersham Marshall. The Reverend took a Curate position at Chesterfield Parish Church before moving to Yorkshire.

Prominently stood inside the cemetery is a Huthwaite War Memorial. Initially erected in commemoration of village losses through a World War, before need for adding later casualties resulting from the second. Our Huthwaite Online Memorial Project uncovers a fuller detailed remembrance behind all those named, while the epitaph is clearly readable after sighting a much needed 2007 renovation.

Hopefully similar can be later said following the current intrusions made upon the headstones and older grave plots all in the name of safety. Formed 1st April 1974, Ashfield District Council has since maintained all the grave yards previously held between the areas smaller merged Urban, Rural and Parish councils. They also jointly manage the Mansfield Crematorium, offering alternative dignity.

The Huthwaite gravestones could help expose more genealogy interests. And to update knowledge, the original register book, plus plot layouts can now be viewed upon the Ashfield DC website On a final note Trev Ashmore reveals the photo and research behind this interesting resident titled Reverend Hawkins.