About Moorgate Cemetery, with Images

Moorgate Cemetery

The public cemetery was designed by Samuel Worth and John Frith for the Rotherham General Cemetery Company, established by a company of shareholders; it opened on the 8th September 1841. It comprised about 7 acres of land tastefully enclosed and planted. Part of the ground was consecrated for use of members of the established church. Land for private graves could be purchased from £1 10s and upwards.The registrar was Henry Braithwaite and Thomas White the sexton.It was Rotherham's first public cemetery although originally used for Nonconformists, in October 1846, part was consecrated for Anglican use.

At the bottom of a gentle slope a chapel was erected, which had an entrance at each end and a central partition which enabled use both by Anglicans and Noncomformists. Noncomformists entered the chapel by the front entrance and the Anglicans by the rear entrance.

The first burial, which took place in 1841, was that of Robert Beatson Nightingale, the youngest son of Mr. C. Nightingale, one of the cemetery's directors. Robert Beatson Nightingale had entered the Wesleyan ministry, and contracted a cold whilst in residence at the College at Hoxton, from which he never recovered.

The cemetery was extended in 1869, The extension was designed by Mr F Dobb and laid out by Mr Charles Parkinson. Another extension to the cemetery took place in 1887, this was designed by Mr Hubbard. The cemetery was also extended during the 20th century.

Rotherham Burial Board, formed in 1854, purchased the cemetery for £2500, in 1857. From 1895 Rotherham Council had control.

Frederick Skelton from Retford, living at 20 Cemetery Lane, was recorded as Grave digger in 1881.

Around 1905 Sam Gillam was sexton and curator.

Moorgate Cemetery

The burial records can be found at Rotherham Cemeteries & Crematorium, East Herringthorpe, Rotherham, Tel: . Rotherham Family History Society have published Monumental Inscriptions.

The Cemetery in Kimberworth Road, Masbrough, consisted of four acres and was opened in 1871.

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