Sept 1st 1858
I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter respecting Mr Beaumonts tank of water which is situated in the North Eastern corner of the ground; form whence a pipe conveys that necessary element to the Inn below. Probably you are not aware that to preserve this water from injury and also on account of the hard rock through which it flows; – Mr Holland the Burial commissioner excepted this portion from burial purposes, and directed that it should be planted with trees and shrubs. I am Gentm Faithfully Yours Christopher Alderson Messrs, White & Barrett Solicitors The Well or tank was covered with a portion of the old font which was thrown out of use in the church during some of the alterations which took place from time to time in connexion therewith and I well remember in my earlier days, say 1835 or 36 that there was no font at all in the church and that an ordinary white basin was held by the clerk or sexton for the minister’s use at baptisms. An octagonal (granite) Bath Stone one was afterwards presented by the Rector (C. Alderson) and is the one still used, and now (1890) placed in the baptistery formed in the tower at the late restoration. In process of time and said to be in consequence of coal mining and stone quarrying the water supply to the aforesaid tank gave out and on removing the cover it was found that there was no water at all flowing as had been usual for so long a time into it. I think this would be about 1879 to 1881 and the Beaumont’s Arms Inn had to obtain 18 19 20 water from mains laid by the Corporation of Huddersfield for supplying Kirkheaton with water a few years before. This circumstance led to the opening out of this northern portion of the ground for burial purposes, all the open part was soon filled with graves, and before the opening of the cemetery in 1890 nearly all the trees and shrubs were removed and their places taken by tombs, monuments and headstones.
Based on Kirkheaton church vestry minutes reproduced in Hefford Ainley’s book 3
