The project has been organised by Belper & Duffield Rotary and has been ongoing from late summer through to early autumn.
After an approach from Rotary, the owners of the cemetery, Amber Valley Borough Council, agreed to the work to recover the area where most of the graves were inaccessible and untended.
It was evident that years of brambles were hiding some exquisite examples of Victorian memorial stonework.
Rotary member, Dave Ashley, organised the project along with other Rotarians and volunteers recruited from the local community through social media.
The Victorian cemetery, was opened in 1859 with two burial chapels and a lodge house. It was beautifully landscaped in the form of an arboretum with trees from across the globe.
Being alive in that era exposed the public to many diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis which ran rife through communities”
The 15 acres lie on the northern side of the town adjacent to the A6 at Broadholme, overlooking the River Derwent.
It was evident that years of brambles were hiding some exquisite examples of Victorian memorial stonework.
Not only is the cemetery full of history, but it is also located within the Derwent Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dave Ashley said: “We knew the cemetery is much-loved by local people, but we recognised that the oldest parts needed some tender love and care.
“So, over several weeks and much hard work by a dedicated bunch of volunteers, we’ve cleared about an acre, filling around 180 builders’ bags with bramble brash that had been disposed of by the council.”
The Rotarians revealed many Victorian graves including Hannah’s grave which was carefully uncovered by volunteers Vicki, Linda, Penny and Charlotte.
It was a grave they felt they wanted to know more about – so there began ‘Hannah’s Story’.
Vicki Colabella, one of the volunteers, carried out research using internet access to census and burial data.
This shows that Hannah was born in Belper in 1859, died and was buried in Belper Cemetery in 1890 aged 31, only 31 years after it opened in 1859.
Hannah was the daughter of Walter and Selina Spencer of ‘Hunger’ Hill, Belper,
Hannah’s father was a horse nail maker. supporting three other children, Julia, Reuben and Emma. Nail making was a very significant industry in Belper during the 18th and 19th centuries, from which Belper Town Football Club takes its name ‘The Nailers’.
The Victorian cemetery, was opened in 1859 with two burial chapels and a lodge house”
Hannah married miner George Smales-Cresswell in 1880 at Duffield and they lived on Bullsmoor Belper with Hannah’s parents, later having children Julia and Lily.
The Rotarians revealed many Victorian graves including Hannah’s grave which was carefully uncovered by volunteers Vicki, Linda, Penny and Charlotte.
Hannah was 31 when she died. Without a death certificate, the cause of death is uncertain.
“Being alive in that era exposed the public to many diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis which ran rife through communities,” added Dave.
“Due to her age, her death could also have been a result of complications during childbirth, which was sadly not uncommon at the time.
“We are noticing recurring surnames which are still in use locally today, such as Spencer, Cresswell, Hall, Cooper, Jennison, Taylor and Walker.”
“Saturday, September 25th, 2021, was the 131st anniversary of Hannah’s death. So, we are proud that Rotary’s Belper Cemetery Project is almost at the stage where grass and wildflower seed will be sown around the revealed graves to continue a sense of nature, peace and tranquillity for residents past such as Hannah, and present.”
