AT the October meeting of Melksham & District Historical Association, Dave Napier of the Arnos Vale Cemetery restoration society gave a fascinating evening’s slide show and talk entitled “Connections in stone.”
Dave started the evening showing how the link between the ancient standing stones of medieval times was linked to the use of grave stones in our cemeteries.
Dave went on to show that there was interesting backgrounds to some of the famous Bristol people who are interned in Arnos Vale. From uncovering a deeply covered grave stone, the society researches the history of the person interned and often comes up with some very interesting life stories of the long forgotten people.
During the 1849 Cholera outbreak in Bristol, Doctor William Budd proposed a simple hygiene method to reduce the spread of the disease which greatly reduced the spread throughout the city. Those without any money were interned in a common unmarked “pit” measuring 20ft by 16ft. Today William Budd is remembered by having a ward named after him at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. There are over 50,000 graves in the cemetery. The cemetery is open to the public on Saturdays for guided walks and refreshments, it is well worth a visit, but advised to contact first.
The Melksham and District Historical Association AGM, social evening and buffet supper will be held on Thursday 19th November. Tickets £8 can be purchased from Tony Fivash, 01225 708161.
Tony Box
