A centuries-old family burial ground has been transformed and reopened to the public.
Pole Moor graveyard was completely overgrown and has been closed to the public since last October.
But it has now been bought and restored by Robert Broadbent, a direct descendant of the Broadbent family which founded the Pole Moor Chapel Cemetery company in 1787.
According to Robert, the Broadbent family founded a cemetery and grave digging business around Scammonden as early as 1542. And the first owner and grave digger at Pole Moor was Richard’s’s ancestor, John Broadbent, born in 1763.
The graveyard moved out of family possession in 1932, and Robert was approached a few months ago by owner Deborah Ingham who was fighting a losing battle against thieves and vandals, despite her best efforts and considerable expense. She asked if he was interested in buying the site.
She had branded the graveyard as “dangerous, and locked it after vandals started a fire there, only for someone to break in and fall into a collapsed grave.
Robert, who runs the Launds Inn Museum, said: “I didn’t hesitate to take the graveyard on as I had seen it decline over recent years, and it would only be a matter of time before the graveyard would be lost forever.
“Once it was agreed, I put a plan together to clean the graveyard up once and for all. “Firstly, I employed a professional company to do an initial clearance of all the main undergrowth and removal of trees and shrubs. Then I made safe all the open graves before I strimmed all of the graveyard.
“Finally, repairs were made to external graveyard walls, and now the gates are being painted and the graveyard has reopened.”
The graveyard will offer burial plots as well as a new garden of remembrance for cremated remains, and will be planted with seasonal bulbs and other plants.
Relatives and friends are returning to pay their respects to their loved ones and leave flowers now that the graves are visible.
Robert added: “From my personal point of view, history is now complete. My grandfather’s wishes have been completed and the graveyard is in safe hands for everyone and back in the Broadbent family.
“I feel very proud to have stepped forward and completed this challenge for the people of the old families of Pole Moor.”
The graveyard has its own Facebook page at polemoorgraveyard and will soon have a web page at: www.laundsinnmuseum.co.uk/polemoorgraveyard .
It is across the road from the Grade II listed Pole Moor chapel, known as the Tabernacle on the Hill, which was closed in 1992 and converted into apartments in 2001.
