1876: The Opening of Wrexham Cemetery

Sarah Pritchard (33), mother of infant Ethel Irene.

For Years 5-7

The new cemetery on Ruabon Road wasn’t even finished when my little Ethel Irene died. Just a babe. Poor mite. And why was she taken from us? I’m her mother, Sarah Pritchard, and I suppose I’ll never know. But she’ll be in Heaven now and I come here often to visit the place where she’s buried. It was lonely at first, but then the cemetery was officially opened. July 1876, three months after we lost Ethel Irene.

For Years 7-8 (or older)

The new cemetery on Ruabon Road wasn’t even finished when my little Ethel Irene died. Just a babe. Poor mite. And why was she taken from us? I’m her mother, Sarah Pritchard, and I suppose I’ll never know. But she’ll be in Heaven now and I come here often to visit the place where she’s buried. It was lonely at first, but then the cemetery was officially opened. July 1876, three months after we lost Ethel Irene. And when it was opened, the Bishop of St. Asaph came to bless the grounds and a great crowd turned up for the ceremony. The Mayor and Mayoress came, and me and my husband were there as well. Then there was a long procession, and we all sang the hymns. The cemetery is very beautiful, laid out like a park – the first we ever had in Wrexham. Laid out by a man called Yeaman Strachan. He’s famous, he is. And in the evening, at the Old Swan Inn on Abbott Street, there was a big feast – really for all the workers, though we were there as well. There was fine food and a choir. And now, I think, all the important people of Wrexham will be buried there, as well as all the other folk of the town. Ethel Irene will be in good company, I think.

Do you think little Ethel’s story is sad? What sort of serious illnesses did children catch in those days that we maybe don’t have today? Could you write about what Victorian funerals like? Or draw a picture? Since 1876, which famous people have been buried at the new cemetery?