News update –
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The burial ground is clearer than it has been in decades and we will be holding several open days this year.
Watch the website for details.
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Update - Hopefully interested residents will note that most of the rubbish has been removed from the burial ground and that railings are in place as some of the oldest tombs are to be checked for safety.
It was also noted that the owner was selling fireworks and when South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were contacted they confirmed that they had been unable to meet up with the owner so he didn't have licence to sell these. They have liaised with the council and a notice has been served on the venue premises, by the council, forbidding any events to take place until Fire and Rescue have been allowed into the building to check on its safety. This is to protect members of the public and to ensure that fire exits etc are in place.
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Other sites regarding Rotherham heritage ….
Please see this website www.doncastergatehospital.co.uk for more information about the campaign to save Doncaster Gate Hospital in Rotherham. |
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On July 18th 2008 the Friends attended a council planning application proposed by the Chapel owner Mr Khaliq. He planned to have a meeting venue mainly for Asian weddings in the old school rooms. We were alarmed because the idea would have quite a disastrous affect on the Chapel and also the neighbourhood. Twenty letters of objection were received by the council which listed valid concerns and the council were going to recommend rejection of the planning application. Mr Khaliq must have realised this and withdrew the application before it could be discussed. We do not have any idea of his future plans but will watch the situation closely.
Unfortunately there had been a large amount of fly tipping on the site which the council were following up and this had affected he maintenance agreement finally in place. The council were also following this up to get the rubbish removed.
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One step forward and two steps back for the Masbrough Chapel
Recently the results of a four year impasse between the Council and the owner of the Chapel came to a satisfactory conclusion when a court case ruled in the Council’s favour to allow maintenance teams to go into the burial ground.
This was long overdue as no clearing had been done for almost ten years and the site had become impassable and neglected. An initial site survey and clearing team was set in motion and the first clearing up had been done. The burial ground is a designated public open space and a covenant exists to keep it so, known as the 1968 Agreement.
However the Friends of the Masbrough Chapel and Walker Mausoleum’s joy was short-lived when it became clear that the owner has now decided to market part of the buildings as a “Function Room”. This is in part of the Victorian Schoolrooms to the side of the listed Chapel. Enquiries showed that no planning permission had been sought or building regulations approached for this venture. The Council’s Enforcement Officer was alerted and has informed the owner that he cannot hold any functions there until the relevant permission has been granted. Planning permission has now been sought but the application was incomplete and was returned to the owner. As this is a residential area and because of the proximity to the Listed Chapel we would consider this to be an unsuitable use for the buildings as well as the fact that we believe no safety work has been undertaken.
The council’s team were preparing to include the site to be regularly maintained when once again the situation has taken a twist. A large amount of rubbish has been fly-tipped onto the burial ground. As access to the area is still difficult it is surprising if this has come from a van or lorry.
This important historical site is deteriorating fast and we thought we were on target to actually make a difference here. This is not just about saving bricks and mortar; the Walker family were instrumental in the transformation of Rotherham from a rural town to an important industrial centre. The burial ground is an integral part of Rotherham’s history. The forebears of many Rotherham families are buried here along with children that died in the Masbrough Boat disaster and leading industrialists of the Victorian period.
Centenary Way slices the site off from town and it is in what has become a forgotten area. Our Chapel, Mausoleum and burial ground will never pull in the visitor numbers required by Heritage Lottery to receive big grants but it is an important part of the industrial and social heritage of Rotherham and must be preserved.
Maintenance of the site must be continued, the fly-tipping cleared and access made safe for local people so that it can become part of the community once more.
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Stop press – The council have now obtained a judgement from the court to enforce the owner to allow access to the graveyard so it can be maintained and visited by interested people. It is a designated Public Open Space. We will update you when it is safe to go on site as the Greenspaces team have to organise a specialist clear up. Later in the summer we will plan a walk around Masbrough and hopefully to enter the graveyard and the Mausoleum. Watch for our advertising.
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An Egyptian Tomb – in Rotherham!
Click here to read the article written by Steve Blackbourn, former Manager of Clifton Museum.
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