Anyone who has recently passed the former parish churchyard by the green will have noticed that preliminary work has begun to restore this iconic bit of our past.
 |
| Looking through the Lych Gate, 2023 |
The gate dates back to the jubilee of Queen Victoria and was funded by the Cunliffe Brook’s family.
There are those who can remember when a bell was rung from the tower to mark the New Year, and plenty more senior citizens who sheepishly admit to hiding in the space and causing a “nuisance to passers by”.
It was last renovated in 1993 and 31 years on it is due some more tender care and attention.
 |
| The gate, 2024, with the tree outlined in red |
Kath Mcvicker from the City Council tells me that “There will be a need to close off the walkway through the Lych Gate and a footpath diversion around the site. I am requesting that the contractor arranges for signage and notice of the works to be erected as quickly as possible detailing the diversion route”.
All of which is exciting news, and marks a new step forward in the plans to give the graveyard its first major make over since it was transformed in the mid 1980s from a derelict and sad looking place.
 |
| Standing outside the gate circa 1900 |
All of which will restore it to a place of peaceful contemplation which these young people knew sometime at the start of the 20th century
Location; Chorlton Graveyard
Pictures; looking into the graveyard, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and the lych gate, 2024, with the tree outlined in red, courtesy of Kath Mcvicker, Manchester City Council, and the gate circa 1900 from the Lloyd Collection
Great news,
ReplyDelete