DEARNE MEMORIAL GROUP

We are a small group of volunteers who, in 2002, decided to try and improve the standards in Thurnscoe Cemetery, with the objectives to preserve the memorials and historic assets of the cemetery.

Since the group was formed in October 2002 there have been various projects and the group has worked with the Bereavement Services. The projects, which have been completed, are as follows:

• Thurnscoe Baby Memorial to 1,015 babies in unmarked graves
• Miners Memorial to 264 miners killed at Hickleton Main Colliery
• Yorkshire Stone Miniature headstones for 30 graves in the Baby Section in Thurnscoe Cemetery 
• Bolton on Dearne Baby Memorial to 750 babies buried in unmarked graves
• Memorial headstone to a young soldier who died on an outward bound exercise in Norway
• A bronze Memorial to a young sailor who died on the Submarine HMS AFFRAY and also served on HMS AMETHYST
• An extension to the cemetery office with toilet facilities for visitors to the Cemetery.
• New gates commemorating the 100th anniversary of Thurnscoe Cemetery
• Near completion of the indexing of all the Burial Registers of the 20 cemeteries in the Barnsley Borough 

The burial locations of 64 babies for mothers who never knew where their babies were buried when their baby was taken away at birth, they were told to rest and “We will take care of things” they never knew what happened to their baby, but due to the burial index we can now find them, this is a great relief for the mothers, and many tears have been shed when they are taken to their baby’s grave.

All the income from this website will go towards all the cemeteries in the Barnsley Borough, we hope to help Friends Groups to set up their own group to take care of their local cemetery, the funds we raise will help them on their way. There are projects that need starting and funding in most of the cemeteries, our intention is to give as much help as we can.

Although we are a small group, mainly elderly people, projects are getting done with thanks to Marie and Ann in Goldthorpe. Without the support of Barnsley Council many worthwhile Memorials would not have been completed.

We have an excellent record in stone that we can call on to prove our worth. Our website is used worldwide and is in constant use.