The discovery of a grave with almost 300 bodies of infants and stillborn children in a cemetery in Oldham shocked Greater Manchester. It also raised many questions.
The mass grave was reportedly the result of a ‘standard practice’ at NHS hospitals between the 1950s and 1980s. Yet several relatives reached out to the Local Democracy Reporting Service telling a similar story – that they or their parents had been falsely told their babies had been buried ‘with someone nice’ at a burial happening the same day of their death.
Sources told the LDRS they knew the practice of burying stillborn children in unmarked public graves was ‘common practice’ across the region. Councils are aware, they said, of communal graves ranging from five to 15 people in cemeteries across Greater Manchester.
The majority of the graves were not dedicated to stillbirths but were ‘pauper graves’ containing a mixture of adults unable to afford an individual burial plot and stillborn or early infant deaths. The communal grave in Royton holds 145 stillborn children, 128 babies and young kids and 29 adults.
The largest other recorded burial site contains a total of 73 stillborn children, who are buried in several neighbouring plots in Ridgmont Cemetery, Bolton.
It remains unclear how these arrangements between hospitals and town councils – predating most current local authorities in Greater Manchester – came to exist, and why parents were lied to about where their babies were buried.
The NHS directed the LDRS to the department of health and social care. A spokesperson said: “Our sympathies are with all the women and families affected.
“We expect all hospitals to provide as much information as they have available to any parents who inquire about what happened to their stillborn babies, no matter how long ago they passed away.”
The extent to which different local authorities have recognised existing communal graves and how they handle requests varies. This is what Local Authorities told us when we contacted them for comment:
Manchester:
A spokesperson said there are communal graves in every cemetery in Manchester, addiong: “There are a range of existing memorials within each of the cemeteries that provide grieving families a focal point to visit and pay their respects to loved ones who have been interred in these spaces.
“There are also specific baby memorials in each, with the exception of Manchester General. These memorials are in various locations within the cemeteries and they are either marked by a memorial stone (in the cases of Southern and Gorton) or within the baby gardens at Blackley and Philips Park.
“Manchester council’s bereavement services retain extensive records of interments into Manchester’s cemeteries and can support families looking to locate family members.”
Bury
A stonemason donated a memorial to stillborn babies at Bury Cemetery more than 15 years ago, a spokesperson told the LDRS. Located at the cemetery gates at St Peter’s Road, the memorial features a tree, and a number of stones with 30 memorial plaques on them.
The spokesperson said ‘very few details – if any – were ever provided to us when we were sent the remains of babies, which were buried together in public graves’.
“When we manage to find the details of these babies, we offer the family the chance to have their babies’ names inscribed on these plaques,” the spokesperson added. “This has been very welcome for families who want to remember these babies, as it is not permitted to put any memorials on public graves.”
Bolton
Bolton Council said it had previously taken steps to identify and appropriately commemorate public graves in the borough. The authority advised that information is available for anyone with enquiries or concerns about the historic use of such graves.
Oldham
Oldham has agreed to memorialise the mass grave in Royton cemetery.
Council leader Arooj Shah said: “I hope this news will bring some peace and solace to those surviving relatives who have loved ones buried in our cemeteries. it is right to face the mistakes of the past and, more importantly, remember those precious lives.”
Rochdale
A spokesman for Rochdale council said: “Every area of the country is likely to have public and sometimes unmarked graves in cemeteries. In our borough there is a long-standing system in place for families to trace burial locations and add memorials if they wish.
“There are also a number of children’s memorials in our cemeteries and our staff are trained in dealing with enquiries in a sensitive and compassionate manner. If a member of the public requires further information about these services they can contact us directly.”
Salford
A source claimed there were ‘no mass graves within the four Salford Cemeteries which may include stillborn babies’.
The council has a ‘stillborn register’, which lists the grave number and details of any babies buried in their cemeteries.
Stockport
A spokesperson for Stockport Council said they had complete records of ‘all loved ones buried in communal areas’ and recommended residents get in touch directly with any questions.
Tameside
A Tameside council spokesperson said: “Firstly, our hearts and thoughts go out to all families where their babies have been buried in unmarked public graves. The majority of burials will have been stillborn babies or babies that unfortunately only lived for a short time.
“The council is aware that many years ago this was a common practice.”
The borough has historic public graves in all eight cemeteries with a mixture of adults and babies. A memorial stone in the baby section of Dukinfield Cemetery commemorates all babies.
Families are advised to contact the cemetery office by emailing cemeteriesandcrematorium@tameside.gov.uk or calling 0161 342 4461.
Trafford
A spokesperson pointed relatives looking to track down a loved one to www.deceasedonline.com and Research burial records.
Wigan
A Wigan spokesperson said: “We are aware of the situation in other areas of GM and are involved in discussions with our counterparts across the city region.
“There are currently no plans to install memorials at our locations but the council is always prepared to hear the thoughts and views of its residents.”
They added the borough’s community graves were of a ‘smaller scale compared to the ones in Oldham’.
